Minister of Defence Minister Lekota briefed the media on, amongst other, the celebration of Africa Day on 25 May 2004; arrangements for deposed Haitian President JB Aristide visit to South Africa; the alleged mercenaries in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea and Global Governance. (see Minister’s briefing notes)
Questions
Q A member of the media highlighted the fact that the UN is now involved in the Burundi peace keeping mission. He asked the Minister as to how this impacts on the deployment of SA troops and the profile of South Africa internationally.
A Minister Lekota responded that initially the mission had to be financed primarily by African countries. It was also dependant on the goodwill of countries who considered Africa important. The African Defence Force relied on support from governments which deployed troops. Countries which, due to lack of resources, found it difficult to maintain their troops depended on other countries. The Burundi mission is a significant milestone in that since the formation of the UN no region had undertaken a risk that Africa took. It shows that Africa understands its condition and that Africans are determined and willing to be in the frontline for peace. He said that although the UN was, at the beginning, not directly involved with the mission it supported it. The decision to take over the mission means that the UN would take full responsibility for it. SA will continue to play its part in the mission together with other members of the UN.
Q A journalist from Cape Talk Radio asked the Deputy Ministers from Foreign Affairs to indicate as to when Mr Aristide would arrive in South Africa; how long he would stay and the costs of hosting him. He also asked if the government has given Mr Aristide temporary asylum.
A Deputy Minister Pahad replied that no date has been set for Mr Aristide’s arrival and that no final arrangements for his visit have been made. Hence once cannot say as to what the costs would be. Mr Aristide would stay in South Africa for as long as he wants. His stay would also be influenced by the prevailing conditions in Haiti.
Q Mr Alistar Sparks (The Star) indicated that This Day newspaper (24 May 2005) carried an article alleging that President Robert Mugabe refuses to talk with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He asked the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs to comment on what this means for South Africa’s quite diplomacy.
A Mr Pahad said that he had also seen the article in the newspaper. He said that the government would continue with its efforts to find a solution to the Zimbabwe crisis. The article does not affect South Africa’s quite diplomacy because no one has shown any diplomacy that would work better.
Q A representative of the Independent Newspapers asked if the Deputy Minister agrees that the June deadline set by President Mbeki would not be met if the newspaper report is anything to go by. She also raised concerns over the alleged mercenaries who are in custody in Zimbabwe. She felt that the stand adopted by the government appears to indicate that the people are guilty. She wondered as to what has happened to the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty.
A The Deputy Minister agreed that the deadline might not be met. He added that the date was set as a mere guideline. If it is not met then the government would need to sit down and decide on the way forward.
With regard to the issue of the alleged mercenaries Minister Lekota said that the government would not speculate on the likely outcome of the case. Only when judgement has been delivered will government engage with the process. The government is working very hard to ensure that the trial conforms to the Geneva Convention and provisions of our law. Some of the reasons why our Ambassadors pay regular visits to the prisoners is to ensure that international protocols are observed and that the government can account on the treatment of its citizens. The government is very sympathetic to the situation of the alleged mercenaries and their families. One can not understand how it could be concluded that the government of SA is condemning the arrested people. The Minister warned that people against the consequences of not respecting the laws of any country.
Q A journalist from the Natal Witness asked Minister Lekota if he is confidant that the UN would endorse South Africa’s "developmental peace keeping" effort in Burundi.
A The Minister replied that the UN recognizes the fact that unless one links development to peace, it would be difficult to sustain any peace achieved in a country. He said that he is satisfied that the UN is committed to "developmental peace keeping".
Q A journalist from the City Press asked the Deputy Minister as to who would bear the cost of bringing Mr Aristide to South Africa.
A Mr Pahad said that the issue of who will bear the cost of bringing Mr Aristide to SA has not been resolved because it is not yet clear as to how many people he would be bringing with him and what their requirements would be.
Q A journalist from the Sunday Times asked if the government played any role leading to the arrest of the alleged mercenaries. He indicated that there is a report which claims that some intelligence was passed to Zimbabwe by South Africa. He asked (if this is true) whether the government used the correct structure to cause the arrest of those people.
A Minister Lekota agreed that some intelligence did pass between the two countries. He was quick to warn people not to equate intelligence with evidence. One does not arrest people on the basis of intelligence not supported by evidence. South Africa, as a member of SADC, was obliged to report to Zimbabwean authorities that an aircraft had flown out of South African airspace into Zimbabwean airspace.
Q A member of the media asked as to why the government is not following alternatives to the "quite diplomacy" it has adopted given the fact that there are numerous alternatives in the armoury of diplomacy. He said that different pressures like closing borders and cutting electricity supply to Zimbabwe may be applied to force the government to do something about the situation.
A Mr Pahad replied that quite diplomacy has various elements. The government is in constant contact with the MDC and ZANU- PF. He said that there is nothing South Africa can do about its borders with Zimbabwe. The government would not erect electric fences around its borders. With regard to cutting electricity supply, the Deputy Minister commented that no Zimbabweans, (MDC and ZANU-PF supporters alike) have asked for sanction. He advised people to respect the fact that Zimbabwe is not a 10th province of South Africa. There are protocols that have to be followed when one deals with independent governments of other countries. What happens in Zimbabwe has an impact on South Africa. People are expecting South African troops to march into Zimbabwe to effect regime change and the government is not prepared to do this.
The Minister of Defence added that the problem in Zimbabwe has to be resolved in a way that does not cripple the prospects of future Zimbabweans.
Mr Lembede (GCIS) thanked the Ministers and all people present and closed the proceedings.