8 February 1999
INTRODUCTION
Let me start by echoing the sentiments expressed by President Mandela on the untimely death of His Majesty King Hussein. This man of peace will be sorely missed not only by the people of Jordan but also by the international community as a whole. We had originally planned for Minister Buthelezi to attend the funeral on behalf of the Government. However, because the Jordanians are obliged to close their airspace earlier than we had anticipated, the jet which was to have taken the delegation would not have arrived in time. It was, therefore, decided to send Ambassador Frank Mdlalose from our Embassy in Cairo to attend the funeral.
At the opening of Parliament on Friday President Mandela stated, and I quote "For a country that not so many years ago was the polecat of the world, South Africa has truly undergone a revolution in its relations with the international community". We have established diplomatic relationships with no less than 164 countries, not to mention the over 70 international organizations we have joined since 1994. Moreover, Pretoria has become one of the world's busiest diplomatic capitals with 124 diplomatic countries represented here, as well as numerous international organizations.
We are also consulted by all the major players in the international community on a range of developments around the world and our positions are sought almost on a daily basis. Our Chairmanship of SADC and NAM and UNCTAD entrust us with special responsibilities and in this role we are considered to be a significant spokesman for the interests and concerns of the developing world.
This includes our views on the recent bombing of Iraq, where both sides of the divide sought our support for their respective positions, for example.
This brings home the point that as a Department we are constantly involved in matters of the highest importance to the state in our interaction with the world.
This brings enormous responsibilities and makes tremendous demands on the Department of Foreign Affairs which has not got any bigger since this veritable explosion of its core business.
THE DEPARTMENT
In line with the directives from the President, which were reflected in his opening speech to Parliament, we held an important 10-day indaba of all our heads of mission and the top management of the Department in January this year. The meeting decided that in essence the core business of the Department was to create wealth and provide security for the people of South Africa. Several themes were chosen for carrying out the existing foreign policy of South Africa. The themes addressed key topics ranging from globalisation, to trade and investment, to migration and crime.
The Heads of Mission affirmed once more that South Africa's foreign policy must continue to be firmly anchored to its domestic policy.
The meeting discussed ways of formalising a close working relationship with other government departments.
It was agreed that there would be joint training with officials from other Departments, especially the Department of Trade and Industry. Officials from our Department will be seconded to other Departments as a way of building capacity.
In our continued quest to promote professionalism in the Department, the Heads of Mission agreed to sign performance contracts for diplomats as required by law. A code of conduct for South Africa's diplomats was also introduced and accepted.
The Department has played no small part in repositioning South Africa in its rightful place in the community of nations. We have emphasised the need to reflect our domestic values and interests in the way we conduct our foreign policy. We have often found ourselves facing very high expectations about our role in a troubled continent as well as further afield. We have responded to these as major challenges and opportunities and have made our contribution where it was appropriate - rather than burdens to be avoided.
In so doing, we have not always been able to meet all these expectations, but let me stress that it was not for a lack of political will on our part.
I often think that South Africans have taken too much for granted, too soon.
There is a pervasive mood that we have accomplished everything and that we now can rest on our laurels. This is dangerous and shortsighted thinking.
The fact that no less than seven prominent world leaders will visit our shores during the month of February alone should not be taken lightly. The significance of these visits, and indeed those of our President abroad, should not be underestimated.
There is a reason why the largest and most influential countries across the globe have invested in us as a country and have seen fit to form strategic partnerships with us.
Since January we have hosted Prime Minister Blair to continue top level discussions on the bilateral forum with Britain, former Prime Minister Hashimoto of Japan on the need to strengthen cooperation in economic scientific and tourism fields as well as the visit by Chancellor Klima of Austria, who is part of the troika of the European Union and Prime Minister Dehaene of Belgium will be here from 14-20 February 1999.
Vice President of China Hu was also here last week to discuss the strategic partnership we have formed with China. Simarlary we will receive King Juan Carlos of Spain on a state visit next week.
Vice President Al Gore will also be in South Africa from 17-19 February 1999 for the fourth session of the Bi-National commission with the United States of America.
One of the highlights of the meeting will be the launching of the Law Enforcement Committee to be co-chaired by Minister Mufamadi and the US Attorney General Janet Reno. This committee will focus on ways in which South Africa can fight crime, especially international crime. I often think that our successful domestic transition has created perceptions that we are capable of miraculous interventions which would instantly solve the many conflicts in our region and beyond. The reality is more complex and demands more painstaking commitment rather than instant quick-fix solutions.
Our interventions in seemingly intractable conflict areas should not be seen as one-off events but rather as part of an often drawn out process, in similar ways to international conflicts like Kosovo, Somalia and the Middle East, to name but a few.
EAST TIMOR AND LOCKERBIE
Our involvement in attempts to break the logjam on both the East Timor and Lockerbie issues look very positive indeed and we look forward to early resolutions to these problems. These two issues illustrate the need to sometimes take a longterm and by implication patient, yet determined, approach to difficult diplomatic problems. In both these issues we have invested heavily, both in time and human resources in the search for solutions. The fruits of this are now starting to show.
DRC
In similar vein, on the question of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we remain committed to the need for all-inclusive negotiations as the only recipe for sustainable peace in that country. Our involvement here must not be seen as a series of high profile events but rather as part of a drawn-out process. There cannot be a long term military solution, we must exhaust the negotiation option and in this regard we will continue to support the efforts of President Chiluba in this regard. A ceasefire is our most immediate objective.
ANGOLA
The situation in Angola continues to be of grave concern. President Mandela addressed this matter in his speech on Friday. As he said, there is a need for a reassessment of the way the international community has approached the impasse there. We continue to maintain contact with the Troika in this regard. There has been no confirmation of the persistent rumours that a large contingent of Cuban soldiers has arrived in Angola. Both the Angolan and Cuban Governments have denied this. The plight of the missing South Africans is still of serious concern to us and although we have not made any breakthroughs to date, we are sparing no effort to find them.
I would like to appeal once again to our private sector and public to respect United Nations Security Council resolutions on Angola and to avoid, if at all possible, travel to the interior of the country. Should this be absolutely necessary, we urge those travelling to inform either our Department or our Embassy in Luanda before undertaking their journey.
NIGERIA
In our continuing engagement in the unfolding transition in Nigeria we welcome the upcoming visit to Lagos of a South African civil society delegation from 11-16 February 1999. The delegation will be under the mantle of the Foundation for Global Dialogue and will include members of our National Assembly and representatives of my Department. This group will meet with over a hundred representatives of Nigerian NGO's. We believe that this will support our consistent efforts to strengthen the democratic process in that country.
COMOROS
With regard to the Comoros, you will be aware that I hosted, as Chairman of the OAU coordinating group, a meeting which brought together Government representatives from that country and various African countries in our continuing search to reverse the unilateral secession efforts by the islands of Anjouan and Moheli.
APPOINTMENT OF HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
Political appointments to diplomatic missions are not unique to South Africa. Many countries around the world, including some of the most advanced democracies, use this practice to a greater or lesser degree. It is the President's prerogative, often on proposals made by political parties, to appoint these heads of mission.
While we have committed ourselves to promoting a professional service by doing our best to ensure that career diplomats are not obstructed in their career paths, we should not forget that the present government inherited an almost exclusively white male diplomatic service in 1994. A service that did not reflect the demographic make-up of our society. There was, therefore, a political imperative to redress these imbalances.
I have prepared a list of all our heads of mission around the world, with a clear indication as to who was a political appointee as well as their respective political affiliations.
We will make this available to the media as soon as possible. I reject the notion that the service has become the dumping ground for so-called failed politicians of whatever political persuasion.
Every political party has approached the President with requests to appoint various candidates. There is no doubt that he has gone to great lengths to appoint people from across the political spectrum in the spirit of reconciliation , which has been the hallmark of this government. We will provide you with a list of all our Heads of Mission, together with their political affiliations, as soon as possible.
Furthermore, the Department itself has had to assimilate various disparate entities to form one unified and coherent diplomatic service. This has included the incorporation of outstanding individuals who initially were political appointees but who have now decided to join the Department as permanent officials.
THE VASSEN CASE
I would like to say that we have accepted Mr Ramesh Vassen's decision to withdraw from the position as Consul-General to Mumbai. We respect him for this and we have taken note of public concerns about his appointment there. The decision to send him there was taken in good faith.
We take note of the Public Protector's intention to investigate his appointment and he can be assured of our cooperation throughout. As far as persistent media reports on the possible appointment of Mr David Mkwanazi are concerned, let me repeat again that he has never been considered for such an appointment.
Similarly, Mrs Shope-Mafole's appointment as an attache to Paris was made by the Department of Communications, to which she belongs.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
CAPE TOWN
8 FEBRUARY 1999