SUMMARY The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasised the renewal of the African continent as the key goal of the Department. The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism spoke of the upcoming 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and the next Earth Summit, which will take place in Johannesburg. The Minister of Defence emphasised a draft SADC regional defence past.
Questions from the media focused overwhelmingly on the current situation in Zimbabwe. Minister Dlamini-Zuma responded that the policy of Foreign Affairs is to promote "good neighbourliness" and she spoke strongly against any adversarial or combative intervention in that country. She underlined very forcefully that the government of Zimbabwe is a legitimate, democratically elected one and the Department will respect it as such.
MINUTES
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma The Minister said the Department’s key objective at this time is the renewal of the African continent. Key priorities in working toward this goal include the Millenium Africa programme, peace and security, the promotion of stability and projecting a realistic image of South Africa that is positive and hopeful. One goal is to re-position the continent in terms of global international relations. The Millenium Africa programme will emphasise socio-economic renewal through debt cancellation, increased market access, direct foreign investment, foreign aid and narrowing the digital divide.
She said most of the African continent is currently living in peace and under democratic governance. The conflicts that do exist need to be resolved; here, the Minister mentioned Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma spoke of the international "image" of South Africa, saying some call this country a "miracle". She disagrees with this view of South Africa, asserting that she sees what is happening here as the result of struggle, not miraculous intervention. South Africa, she said, can hold out hope to the rest of the world, but what is happening here are not projected properly. We must recognise the positive things about South Africa and project them to the rest of the world. South Africa can be promoted as a place of hope.
Upcoming international activities include the UN World Conference Against Racism to be hosted by South Africa. The Minister said the decision to hold the Conference in Africa is a very deliberate one since Africa has been the site of some of the most severe expressions of racism. Also upcoming are the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Organisation of Africa Union Summit 2002.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma identified SADC as a "building block" for continental integration. There will be an Extraordinary Summit in March 2001 to work toward making SADC more efficient. Gender issues will be mainstreamed, the Minister said. She also said SADC heads of state would now meet more frequently than once annually, which was inadequate.
A major thrust this year will be the African Union which will replace the OAU. The Minister encourages all African states to ratify the African Union Treaty.
In addition, South Africa will still work with the European Union, and other "countries of the South". It is negotiating with the World Trade Organisation. An international investment council was established last year and the Minister hopes to improve co-operation among nations of the southern hemisphere. She looks to nurture bilateral relations along with multi-lateral relations, mentioning specifically China, India, Russia, the European Union, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and the UK. Referring to last year’s China-Africa forum, she said the proof of its success is now in the follow-up.
One important factor in the Ministry achieving all of its goals is capacity, Minister Dlamini-Zuma said, both in terms of numbers and skills. She said the Ministry is looking to improve its skills base.
Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Valli Moosa The Minister spoke of the upcoming 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and said the next Earth Summit would take place in Johannesburg, calling this a "very representative world gathering".
Minister Moosa said the 2002 World Summit would focus on the elimination of poverty, of which the environment is a factor.
Defence Minister Patrick Lekota The Minister spoke of capacity and action, saying diplomacy without defence is worthless.
All SADC countries, Minister Lekota said, are involved in a draft regional defence pact. Collective security, he said, will strengthen relationships with other countries and attract long-term capital investment to the region. He also said South Africa will sign memoranda with China and India on defence.
Questions from the media and replies (Q) I notice you did not mention Zimbabwe. Are you concerned about the anti-democratic trends there, including threats to freedom of the judiciary?
(Q) Can you comment on criticisms of Zimbabwe that its land reform is a "sham" and an electoral ploy? In addition, I suggest that South Africa’s policy is not nuanced, in view of the human rights violations taking place there.
(A) Minister Dlamini-Zuma: I acknowledge I did not mention Zimbabwe specifically; however, it is a member of SADC to which I referred frequently. Ask yourself why we have foreign relations; if we did not, we would be at war everyday. As a government, we must stand by our principles and domestic policies. One goal of foreign affairs is good neighbourliness; we assist, we build bridges across countries. Don’t advocate war with Zimbabwe; we won’t do it. Our aim is to assist, not to be an adversary. We will speak out, but in a way that still encourages good neighbourliness. However, when we do not have to become combative; we can agree to disagree. We can discuss in a friendly and open atmosphere that continues to build bridges. We must exercise our responsibility properly without compromising our principles.
In addition, we will not treat the government of Zimbabwe as if it were illegitimate. It is a legitimate government. Elections in Zimbabwe next year, if they are democratic and free and fair, will produce another legitimate government. Robert Mugabe is the legitimate President of Zimbabwe. We may not agree with the government of Zimbabwe, but it is a legitimate one.
Do not try to push us into a combative mood with Zimbabwe; it will not help. I did not say we would do nothing about Zimbabwe, but that our approach would not be combative. We will continue trade. We are not yet in "e-diplomacy"; instead, we talk and discuss. We don’t condemn. Condemnation does not make problems go away; instead it compounds them. We want to achieve positive results. So why are you pushing us to do something you know will not work?
(A) Minister Lekota: There is a limit to the extent South Africa can interfere in the domestic affairs of another country. We are part of a regional community in which South Africa is a partner among equals. We need these friendships. We are also part of the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations. Our powers are only persuasive and these are very limited.
(Q) Since part of the work of Foreign Affairs is to anticipate problems, are we preparing for when the food runs out in Zimbabwe and refugees start flooding into South Africa?
[This question was not responded to directly]
(Q) In view of the upcoming UN World Conference Against Racism, can you comment on reparations for slavery?
(A) Minister Dlamini-Zuma: Any situation encompasses both the present and the past. The future does not exist in a vacuum but is a product of both the past and the present. The question of reparations is both difficult and an important. I believe I have answered the question.
(Q) Please comment on your meeting with Bush in the USA.
(A) Minister Dlamini-Zuma: We met with him as the Governor of Texas while we were there, not as a member of the opposition party. While in California, we met with the Governor of California for the same reason.
(Q) Has the arms investigation compromised any of the sale contracts?
(A) Minister Lekota: Nothing in the Strategic Arms Package has changed. We are in full agreement. This agreement is now undeterred. We are negotiating a Memo of Understanding with Saudi Arabia.
(Q) In terms of the DRC peace talks, why didn’t President Chiluba of Zambia invite other peacemakers? Why this policy of exclusivity? Also, what weapons will we sell in Saudi Arabia?
(A) Minister Dlamini-Zuma: As for the weapons, ask the companies who sell them. Foreign Affairs doesn’t sell weapons, it just approves the sales. I guess they will sell whatever is ordered from them.
I agree it is a shame only three heads of state attended. However, we do not know whether only these three were invited or whether others were invited but could not attend.
(Q) Do you see President Chiluba as neutral in the negotiations?
(A) Minister Dlamini-Zuma: I think it is irrelevant. What matters is the people involved.
(Q) Please comment on the ratification of the African Unity Treaty.
(A) Minister Dlamini-Zuma: The Organisation of African Unity has approved the Constitutive Act of the African Union. It says all member states together can agree to interfere with a Member state if there is serious cause, for example, genocide. But a stronger state, whether politically or economically, cannot interfere with another state at will. Sovereignty must be respected. As for the Treaty, no country has rejected ratification, although not all have ratified. Remember that a treaty is always a product of compromise and consensus.
(Q) How can you say South Africa respects the principle of non-interference in the affairs of another state given the recent invasion of Lesotho?
(A) Minister Dlamini-Zuma: The situation in Lesotho was very different than the current situation in Zimbabwe. We were in Lesotho to defend democracy. This is one thing we will do when a democratically elected government is under threat. These are two very different situations.