The global power configuration and foreign policy decision-making environment have changed significantly after the end of the Cold War. A new order or paradigm is in the process of emerging without us yet knowing what its final characteristics would be. Rare and unique opportunities have, however, arisen as a result of the demise of the bipolar or Cold War era, and South Africa will play its role, in collaboration with other states, to establish a new and a solid foundation for the type of world we would like to see in the next century.
One of South Africa's major advantages is that it faces no security threat, eg. military-orientated, from the region or elsewhere. The raison d'etre for the Frontline States security configuration has fallen away. This has been replaced by an embryonic, pluralistic, economic and security community in which South Africa will play an important role. Moreover, South Africa finds itself in the position of growth and expansion in all the dimensions of world diplomacy, limited only by the country's relative scarcity of resources.
Beneficial relations with the outside world are extremely important for South Africa's progress and stability, particularly in the economic sphere. South Africa exchanges the equivalent of about 68% of its GNP with the outside world. Apart from the country's regional role, it is well-positioned to amplify or enhance its role as a global role-player, not in the power-political sense, but qualitatively, particularly in the moral and economic domain of relations. An ideal of most South Africans is that their country should become a "winning nation" eg. a respected country with a good image that performs well internationally on issues or in areas they regard as of importance. The Department of Foreign Affairs performs a primary role in this regard, but success requires a combined or team effort, involving the public sector and other relevant state agencies. There is a new role to play for the Department of Foreign Affairs in this changed policy environment. No longer hamstrung by the apartheid stigma, the Department is in the process, through the instrumentality of a variety of staff-enrichment, rationalisation and training programmes, to continuously improve on its professional performance level. Legitimate public expectations concerning our role W in the world, necessitate a new brand of diplomacy, and a new brand of diplomat particularly in terms of skills and orientation. To produce this kind of professional expertise at all levels of the Department of Foreign Affairs' operational field, will of necessity take time. However all the mechanisms are in place to achieve this goal. A basis has therefore been established for the Department of Foreign Affairs to build on, and to continuously enhance its ability to utilise its human and material potential more effectively in terms of the realisation of South Africa's external interests and to exploit the advantages and opportunities made possible by the new policy environment of South Africa. This new environment has various dimensions affecting South Africa's interests, most importantly the moral, regional, the global economic, the multilateral, the security, the cultural and the technological and scientific dimensions. Each of the dimensions, and the way we cope with them, are of vital importance to South Africa's core interests.
To guide us towards the maximisation of South Africa's national interests, clear normative principles based on the values of our people have been identified. The success of South Africa's foreign policy will at all times strive to achieve an optimal relationship between these principles and practical results.
Foreign Affairs is already on record as stating that we have started to come to terms with the fact that we are an African country and not merely an outpost of Europe on the tip of Africa. We cannot and do not deny that we have been strongly influenced by Europe over the past centuries and that this relationship will continue into the next century, but WE now need to manage this relationship to our best advantage, and that of our region and continent.
We have begun to have an understanding of the role that we should and are expected to play on our continent and in the developing world. Perhaps, initially, because of our past experience and fear of being accused of maintaining a big " brother syndrome, we did not see ourselves as playing a leading role in the region, but now we have come to understand that there is an expectation from Africa and the rest of the world that we have a role to play, a role of contributing to peace and stability in our continent and to the African economic Renaissance. Our perceived reluctance to have a "hands on" approach to our region and to be pro-active in our continent has to some extent been viewed by our neighbours and friends with some suspicion and a great deal of caution.
Our election to the Chairmanship of the SADC for the next three years, while a great honour, is also an indication of how far we have progressed in allying the suspicions and hesitations of our region and how we are seen to be playing a small but respected role in regional and international affairs. As Chair, we have committed ourselves to the furtherance of the objects of the SADC through closer regional co-operation and integration, the harmonisation of activities and a more balanced regional development pattern. To this end we have signed the protocols on shared watercourses, trade, energy, transport and communications, and illicit drug trafficking, as well as the Southern African Power Pool Agreement.
We, together with our SADC partners, are concerned about the need for enhancing the capacity within the SADC structures to co-ordinate all developmental activities to allow for synergy and coherence. The Review and Rationalisation of the SADC Programme of Action, should result in the enhancement of the capacity for overall regional planning, programme management, assessment and co-ordination within the community.
We believe that the recent creation of the SADC Organ for politics, Security and Defence is an important new initiative which will enable the region to collectively evolve democracy, peace and stability, a catalyst for sustainable development not only in our region, but in our entire continent.
The conclusion of a wide range of bilateral and multilateral agreements with a number of African countries are envisaged for 1997, particularly those relating to the mutual protection of investments and the avoidance of double taxation.Such agreements, and others relating to trade, tourism, technical and scientific co-operation, air services and maritime affairs, will facilitate and encourage the greater involvement of South African enterprises in other African countries. In addition, South African assistance for the establishment of lasting peace in Angola and the Great Lakes region are regarded as priority objectives.
The Department will continue to work at consolidating existing relations with the countries of Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world. A number of high profile visits both to South Africa, and by the President and Deputy President overseas are being planned.
The Ministry and Department are presently focusing on a variety of issues. Some of them can be highlighted in view of their importance:
These and other issues will have to be examined by also taking into account South Africa's special position arisingfrom our democratic transformation and the prestige and standing of our President.
All the foreign policy challenges will have to be approached in a pro-active manner which also involves anticipating events so as to be prepared to respond to them adequately.
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, 11 February 1997