Date: 18/12/2003
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: A Pahad: Statement on criticism of Mbeki's attendance of Haiti's bicentennial celebration


DEPUTY MINISTER AZIZ PAHAD'S STATEMENT ON CRITICISM OF PRESIDENT MBEKI'S VISIT TO HAITI

The Government has taken note of criticism by a tiny minority of the forthcoming visit to Haiti by President Thabo Mbeki and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, scheduled for 1 January 2004.

It will be unfortunate if a perception were to develop that just as this minority has never accepted the democratic rule by the African majority in South Africa they will accordingly find it difficult to join in a celebration that portrays the first victory of Africans over slavery in Haiti 200 years ago.

For them the current challenges facing the people of Haiti feeds into their stereotype tendency to portray Africans and black people in the continent and elsewhere in the diaspora as hopeless and failures.

Accordingly, Africans must not look for role models of democracy, peace and justice in their own history and people but only in the first world. We refuse to be party to efforts that seek to obliterate the history and achievements of African people in the continent and elsewhere in the diaspora.

We desire for ourselves what we desire for the peoples of the world including the people of Haiti. If we desire peace, prosperity and sustainable development for the people of South Africa so do we for the people of Haiti and the rest of the South.

Accordingly, as we celebrate the 10 years of the youngest African Republic in peace and harmony, so would we want to join with the people of Haiti in their bicentennial celebrations of the oldest African Republic.

During her recent visit to Haiti, Minister Dlamini Zuma held discussions with President Jean Aristide, representatives of his government and leaders of opposition political parties and civil society. Both the government and opposition political parties are of the view that it would be tragic if they were not to celebrate such a historic moment.

We will not join in the fray that seeks to deny the people of Haiti the right to claim their heritage! Consequently, both President Mbeki and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will indeed join the peoples of the world and Haiti in celebrating this bicentenary.

To the chagrin of those who call on our President not to visit Haiti, the Haitian Government and opposition political parties have called on SA to assist them in addressing the sharp political and economic challenges currently facing the country. The Government will indeed rise to this challenge and has accordingly agreed to assist in this regard.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853, Department of Foreign Affairs, 18 December 2003