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Date : 21/04/2005
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: van der Merwe: Briefing to diplomatic corps members of missions in SA


Address delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Ms Sue van der Merwe, on the occasion of the briefing to members of the diplomatic corps of missions accredited to South Africa, Burgers Park Hotel, Pretoria

Excellencies,
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
High Commissioners, Ambassadors and Colleagues,

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's Panel Report entitled ‘A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility’, concluded that:

"Development and security are inextricably linked. A more secure world is only possible if poor countries are given a chance to develop. Extreme poverty and infectious diseases threaten many people directly, but they also provide a fertile breeding ground for other threats, including civil conflict. Even people in rich countries will be more secure if their governments help poor countries to defeat poverty and diseases by meeting the Millennium Development Goals".

The African continent is without doubt the continent most affected by poverty and underdevelopment and the connection between conflict and underdevelopment is more visible here than anywhere else. An analysis of countries in conflict or those that have recently emerged from conflict reveals a consistent pattern of low per capita income, absolute poverty, low life expectancy, low levels of FDI and ODA and often high levels of indebtedness. It is also clear that these countries are often rich in resources and strategically located. Placing Africa at the centre of the global development discourse is therefore critical.

That is why South Africa's foreign policy objectives are firmly anchored in an African Agenda, an agenda that is aimed at pushing back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment. The effects of conflict such as economic, collapse, destruction of infrastructure, impoverishment of people, refugee flows and environmental degradation affect not only the countries and areas in conflict, but also its neighbours and the continent as a whole. It has remained a major pre-occupation for our government to assist with the resolution of conflict and peace keeping where possible and within our capacity.

In this, the season of hope for the African continent, I would like to brief you today about some of the major developments in our efforts to bring peace and stability to our continent.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

South Africa's involvement in this sister Southern African Development Community (SADC) country dates back to the latter half of the nineteen-nineties and the involvement of President Mandela and, at that time, Deputy President Mbeki in the negotiations on board the SAS Outeniqua. We have come a long way since then and South Africa has committed itself to assist within its means with the stabilisation of the DRC.

At this crucial moment in the transitional process, the Transitional Government of the DRC requires our encouragement and support as it implements the remaining elements of the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, most importantly with the conducting of free and fair elections.

Although some progress has been registered regarding the planning of voter identification and registration, it is crucial that outstanding legislation be passed expeditiously, and funds both from the DRC Government and international donors be availed for the conducting of the elections. For its part, South Africa is assisting the Transitional Government to ensure that the voter identification and registration is achieved as soon as possible.

Currently, the Government of the DRC is operating on the basis of a transitional constitution. The Constitution for the post-election period has been tabled in Parliament for promulgation and should be ready before the elections.

Pursuant to South Africa's commitment to assist the DRC to advance to elections in the second half of 2005 and with post-conflict reconstruction and development, our government departments are engaging their DRC counterparts on a series of issues, including governance and administration and defence and security. The Departments of Home Affairs; Foreign Affairs; Public Service and Administration; Justice and Constitutional Development; Defence; the South African Police Service; the National Intelligence Agency; and the Independent Electoral Commission have deployed personnel in the DRC. This follows the conclusion of a needs-analysis for the holding of successful elections in the DRC.

Substantial progress has been made with the conducting the first phase of the census of public servants in Kinshasa. An initial headcount has been completed, census questionnaires have been completed in respect of public servants and data is currently being captured on a database. A second headcount will be done in April, biometric information will be captured and temporary identity cards will be issued. The Kinshasa census should be completed by the end of June 2005.

The second phase of the census, which will take place in the provinces will begin at the end of May 2005 and will be completed by the end of December 2005.

Concerning the DDR process, the UN Mission to the Congo (MONUC) has embarked on a forceful disarmament programme. Nine thousand and twelve (9 012) fighters had voluntarily laid down arms by the end of March 2005 and a sizeable number were able to make use of reintegration programmes and jobs promised to them. More still needs to be done in this area to ensure that all combatants are disarmed and reintegrated into Congolese society. Within the SADC context, South Africa is working with the DRC and Belgian governments to create a new Congolese army.

The latest positive development for peace in the Great Lakes region was the announcement by the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), who operate from the eastern DRC from which they launch attacks into Rwanda. On 31 March 2005 they announced that they would unconditionally abandon the armed struggle and return to Rwanda. The Security Council welcomed the FDLR decision and called on the FDLR to co-operate with MONUC so that the disarmament program could commence. The FDLR was furthermore urged to assist the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to fulfil its mandate by handing over any indicted persons who may still be at large.

This development bodes well for security in the Great Lakes region, and will contribute towards easing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.

I must also mention that beyond our conflict resolution efforts, we also have bilateral government-to-government relations through the South Africa-DRC Bi-national Commission (BNC), following the signing of the General Co-operation Agreement in Kinshasa in January 2004, which makes provision for the establishment of a BNC, the SA-DRC BNC was officially inaugurated by Presidents Mbeki and Kabila on 31 August 2004 in Kinshasa in the DRC. In accordance with the General Co-operation Agreement, sectoral commissions, namely Politics and Governance, Defence and Security, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, and Finance, Economy and Infrastructure were established with technical committees. The second session of the SA-DRC BNC is scheduled to take place in Pretoria on 29 April 2005.

Burundi

The Burundi peace initiative initially led by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and later, after his passing on, by former President Mandela and now through the tireless efforts of Deputy President Jacob Zuma, has resulted in the adoption of an Interim Constitution by the Transitional Government and the Burundian political parties.

A regional summit is scheduled for 22 April 2005 in Kampala to pronounce on the possible extension of the Transitional Government due to the delayed elections. During this Summit, Deputy President Zuma, as the Facilitator of the peace initiative will meet President Museveni of Uganda as Chairperson of the Great Lakes Initiative in Burundi to discuss the way forward.

The Transitional Government of Burundi will cease to exist after 22 April 2005 as provided for in the Arusha Agreement. The regional leaders will consider the possibility of extending the mandate of the Transitional Government until elections are held. Elections are still to be held during the course of 2005 and South Africa is committed contributing to their successful conclusion.

The second phase in the Burundi peace process will be the Reconstruction and Development Programme, which will commence after the elections.

South Africa remains committed to the establishment of peace and security in the Great Lakes region and in playing a role post-conflict reconstruction programmes. The African Peace Mission in Burundi (AMIB) recapped as United Nations Operations in Burundi (ONUB) must be credited for the return of stability in 95% of the country. It is envisaged that a South African Observer Mission will participate in the monitoring of the elections.

Recent positive developments include:

* progress with the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process
* the outcome of the referendum held on 28 February 2005 with 91.63% of the registered voters endorsing the new power-sharing constitution
* the approval of the Electoral Code and Communal Law by the Senate that will allow the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) to finalise the election timetable
* importantly the PALIPEHUTU/FNL that has indicated its interest in joining the Transitional Government.

Many challenges remain including the timely announcement of the election timetable and the impact of returnees, internally displaced persons and fleeing Rwandan Hutus on Burundi's already fragile infrastructure. The urgent resuscitation of the Burundi economy, especially the agricultural sector on which 95% of Burundians rely for their livelihood and the infrastructure in general, remains crucial.

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