SOUTH AFRICA'S NEW PLACE IN THE WORLD,
12 SEPTEMBER 1997
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, e.g. military-orientated, from the region or elsewhere. The raison d'ˆtre for the Front-line 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 This has been replaced by an embryonic, pluralistic, economic and security community in which South Africa will play an important role.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 African is that their country should become 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 are certain emerging trends in Africa which need to be taken note of at this point in time an evaluated by South African policy makers so that maximum benefit can be derived by the Nations of Africa. The following general trends are emerging in Southern Africa:
South Africa has 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 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 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 of SADC, South Africa has identified the following five areas as priority issues of concern which South Africa will promote during its chairmanship. These are:
The rationalisation of SADC and its institutions is fundamental to the future development of the region and South Africa as Chair will be expected to give guidance and leadership in this regard. There are sensitivities in the region in this regard and the process of obtaining consensus on this issue will necessarily have to take these into account.
As a member of the Organisation of African Unity, South Africa is continuing to intensify its involvement on various fronts. One of the most important OAU events in which South Africa played a major role this year, was the OAU Landmine Conference which was held in Kempton Park from 19 to 21 may 1997, as well as in the subsequent Summit endorsement of the Kempton Park Plan of Action. Our Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Jackie Selebi, presently chairs an international meeting in this regard in Oslo, Norway.
The South African Government regards the new Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a key country in Central Africa, the stability and economic development of which is important, not only for the region but for our entire continent. South Africa was also the first country which the new DRC Government of President Kabila called upon to assist it in the economic reconstruction of the country. A South African Task Team was sent to the DRC to examine possible areas where the South African Government could render advice and technical assistance. During the recent visit to South Africa of President Kabila and a ministerial delegation the report of this Task Team was discussed and various projects are shortly to be launched in the DRC.
Nigeria has had a long association with South African issues, especially during the era of the struggle against apartheid. However, in recent times relations between South Africa and Nigeria cooled over Nigeria's domestic human rights record. The annulling of the 12 June 1993 elections which saw Chief Moshood Abiola as a probable winner, lies at the heart of the problem. The 1994 detention of Abiola, and the subsequent detention and sentencing of 43 detainees, including former President Obasanjo, saw South Africa making a number of direct interventions with the Nigerian authorities, but with little success.
The major problem in relations came about when the Nigerian government of General Abacha executed nine Ogoni activists, including leading environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa, in November 1995, a time which coincided with the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Auckland, New Zealand. At that CHOGM, South Africa adopted a high profile position on Nigeria, which helped move the Commonwealth to suspending Nigeria for a two-year period. In addition, South Africa was nominated to serve on the Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which included in its brief, the situation in Nigeria. The CMAG is presently holding another round of meetings in London to prepare its recommendations for the Edinburgh CHOGM, scheduled for October 1997.
The role of President Mandela in the Auckland CHOGM, was not welcomed by Nigeria. Bilaterally this heralded in a period of coolness in bilateral relations, with CMAG remaining the central focus of South Africa/Nigeria relations. Over recent months, however, increasing contact has been taking place between President Mandela and General Abacha. Two special missions from Nigeria have been received in South Africa over the past two months. Given this, there has been a marked improvement in the status of bilateral relations.
During 1996 South Africa received an Envoy from the Prime Minister of Malaysia to discuss the possibility of a combined mediation initiative to restore peace and achieve reconciliation in Sudan.
At the end of 1996, a visit by the Chairman of the SPLA in Southern Sudan, Dr John Garang, to South Africa took place to solicit President Mandela's support for the IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) initiatives to try and solve the internal conflict in Sudan.
This was followed in February 1997 by the visit of a Special Envoy from the Sudanese President Al-Bashir, their Minister of Federal Affairs, Dr Elhag Mohammed, to meet President Mandela and give further impetus to addressing the Sudanese issue.
In August 1997, on separate occasions, both President Al-Bashir from Sudan and Dr Garang from the SPLA in Southern Sudan, visited South Africa to give further impetus in supporting IGAD initiatives in resolving the conflict in Sudan. This was followed up by a Summit between President Al-Bashir, President Museweni of Uganda and President Mugabe of Zimbabwe, which focused on relations between Uganda and Sudan.
Of the key issues to be discussed during the 52nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly this year and which are of prime national interest to us are the following:
It will be recalled that in November 1996, the African Group endorsed South Africa as its candidate for the next Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. This was officially endorsed at the New Delhi Ministerial Conference of 4-8 April 1997.
As a relatively new member, South Africa possesses little institutional memory of the organisation and (despite UNCTAD 1996) little experience of the logistical aspects of hosting a Summit. In the last number of months, the Department of Foreign Affairs has therefore consulted with representatives of NAM member states which have had a lengthy historical relationship with NAM, and which have hosted recent Summits and held the Chairmanship of the Organisation. These have included India, Zimbabwe, Columbia, Cuba and Indonesia. The Permanent Mission of South Africa to the Untied Nations has also consulted with the NAM Co-ordinating Bureau and with various foreign missions to obtain relevant information.
A basic task team has been set up in Pretoria and in New York to prepare for the NAM Summit. It has been proposed, tentatively, that the Summit should be held in September-October 1998. A venue has not yet been identified.
South Africa's policy in the Middle East remains one of firm support for the Middle East Peace Process. Given our own experience with the processes of peace-making and reconciliation, South Africa has firmly endorsed the principles of the Peace Process and not the individual positions of the players. South Africa also desires to engage in beneficial relations with all the parties in the Middle East Peace Process. However, if any of the players should take actions damaging to the process, South Africa will certainly take a critical view.
South Africa has emphasised that a successful outcome of the Peace Process should address legitimate Palestinian aspirations, particularly the right to self-determination - as well as accepting Israel's right to exist within secure and recognised borders. Hence we have recognised the State of Palestine.
All of the above issues will have to be examined by taking into account South Africa's special position arising from our democratic transformation and the prestige and standing of our President.
All our 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.