Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
28 September 2001
South Africa's principle position on terrorism is clear and unequivocal. We unremittingly and unhesitatingly condemn any act of terror by whomsoever and for whatever reason. The murderous acts of September 11 in the United States of America represent the most vile and despicable acts of the demented individuals, which must be rebuked by everyone. The South African Government has indeed condemned these acts and offered its sympathy and condolences to the braved families. The Government of the United States of America, has in return, thanked the South African Government for its support and solidarity during the tragic events in their country.
The newspaper article carried by Citizen both on 27 and 28 September, somehow, seeks to question the sincerity of Government with respect to the situation in the United States of America. By misquoting the Minister of Foreign Affairs your newspaper is deliberately obsfucating issues with a view to casting aspersion on Government. By our disingenuous reporting on the Parliamentary Interpolation of Wednesday 26, the Citizen article is maliciously insinuating that South Africa has taken sides with those who are guilty of the most ghoulish crime in the United States.
We think it is important to get the points right before rushing to write a sensational, might we add, damaging story with no factual basis. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was asked by the Honourable Dene Smuts to respond to the ANC Today of 24 August 2001, which dealt at length with the situation in the Middle East. Because the House was not aware of the said article, the Minister of Foreign Affairs went on to read the article for the benefit of all Members of Parliament. In her comments afterwards, the Minister made a clear distinction between the views made in the article and that of Government.
The South Africa Government like the European Union and Associate States, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and China, the Group of Eight Industrialized Countries, the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations General Assembly recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to self determination and the establishment of their Independent State. Equally, the South African Government recognizes the right of Israel to exist and its security assured by all in the region. This is what the Minister of Foreign Affairs said with regard to the question posed to her.
Nonetheless, the Honourable Smuts insisted that the Minister should repudiate the ANC article. The Minister of Foreign Affairs refused to repudiate the article, as she had not repudiated any article before, on any issue. We are always reminded by journalists and Opposition Parties on the need for a clear separation between the Party and Government. Why is it now that Citizen find it convenient to link what is said by the Party to the Government position on this matter? Clearly, by ignoring facts, the Citizen has set out generate confusion and indeed put the Government is a bad light.
It can only be in South Africa, that a newspaper blinded by racism and loath towards Government that can make such a scurrilous and spurious allegation against its Minister. Recently at the World Conference Against Racism, it was the very same Minister of Foreign Affairs that waged a spirited defence against attempts to equate Zionism with Racism by offering what has been accepted internationally as a balanced text on the situation in the Middle East.
The attempt to link the depreciation of the Rand with the Minister's comments on the situation in the Middle East demonstrates the lethargy, and how low the Citizen is prepared to stoop, if only to give some succour to its naive view on what causes the depreciation of the rand.
For further information contact Basetsane Thokoane at 083-443-7740