Centre Amphitheatre, Union Buildings, Pretoria
17 January 2007
Introduction
It is now three weeks since South Africa (SA) has taken its seat as a
non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
As you are aware, it has already been a very hectic and challenging three
weeks. As we seek to carry out our mandate, we will be guided by the African
National Congress (ANC), National Executive Committee (NEC) 8 January 2007
statement, inter alia:
"Our fortunes as a nation are intimately interconnected with the fortunes of
our neighbours, our continent and indeed all of humanity. It is therefore on
this basis both of moral responsibility and collective self-interest that we
continue to be actively engaged in the effort to build a better Africa and
world.
SA needs to use this important position in the Security Council to advance
the cause of Africa in international affairs, in particular, and confirm that
Africans occupy the front ranks in the world struggle for peace, security and
stability.
Our foreign policy should reflect the interests of the continent of
Africa."
* As we seek to achieve these objectives, we are conscious of the enormity
of the challenges.
* The new UN Secretary-General in his first statement on January 8th statement
has given a clear indication of key issues by which we will be
confronted.
* He said:
* Need to view conflict management in a holistic manner � prevention,
peacekeeping and peace-building.
* Need to address conflict in a comprehensive manner with development and human
rights issues being accorded their proper priority.
* The United Nations (UN) has an exceptionally challenging agenda ahead of it
in 2007. We face an unprecedented demand for peacekeeping, as well as a range
of growing demands for preventative diplomacy, good offices, peace-building and
efforts in conflict management. This Council, and the Organisation as a whole,
are going through one of the busiest periods in our history, with a record
number of peace operations, resolutions and reports over the past few
years.
* The Department of Peacekeeping Operations has expanded to cover 18 missions,
with a historic high of 100 000 personnel in the field and climbing. The total
number of peace operations in which the UN is engaged has risen to around
30.
* Some of our most acute and persistent challenges are in Africa. One of my top
priorities will be to step up efforts to address the crisis in Darfur. I will
co-ordinate closely with leaders in Africa and beyond.
* In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we must ensure that recent positive
developments enabled by our largest peacekeeping operation are
consolidated.
* Inject new momentum into our search for peace and stability in the Middle
East � Israel and Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq.
* Work for a conclusion to the uncertainty over Kosovo.
* Range of issues identified cannot be resolved by any one country � issues
which present threats to the security of people around the world and to the
entire international community.
* The threats we face in this century are multi-faceted and
inter-connected
* Three pillars of the UN:
o Security
o Development
o Human rights
All underpinned by the rule of law.
* Strengthening the disarmament and non-proliferation regimes � addressing the
special challenges posed by the cases of Iran and Democratic People's Republic
of North Korea.
* We need to look at the organisational structures of all departments and
offices related to peace and security
These are some of the key issues we will deal with in our briefings.
Today I will concentrate on African issues:
Somalia
UN-Somalia (10 January 2007)
* Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, which holds this month's United
Nations Security Council presidency, said members regarded the situation in
Somalia � which has been beset by fighting and widespread displacement in the
past month � as one of its top priorities.
* Mr Churkin said the Council's 15 members agreed that inclusive political
dialogue among Somalia's various political forces is necessary to end the
deadly clashes and alleviate the humanitarian situation in one of Africa's most
impoverished nations.
* In December the Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorising the
creation of an African protection and training mission to help protect
Somalia's transitional federal institutions
* To be known as IGASOM (Intergovernmental Authority on Development Peace
Support Mission to Somalia) the new force is to be set up by the African Union
(AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and will have
an initial mandate of 6 months. No countries bordering Somalia will be able to
deploy troops.
* UN will send a humanitarian assessment mission to Somalia's border area with
Kenya where thousands of internally displaced persons have gathered to escape
fighting between the Transitional Federal Government and supporters of the
Union of Islamic Courts � the assessment team will examine how to re-start
humanitarian deliveries into Somalia and how to handle the large-scale
population movements that have followed the intense fighting in recent weeks as
the Government, backed by Ethiopian troops, has reclaimed the capital
Mogadishu.
* As the year 2007 began, Somalia put itself firmly at the top of the
African Agenda. In 2007 Somalia needs the support of the rest of the African
Continent. For 15 years it has been victim to a protracted internal conflict
that resulted in the collapse of the state, the death of an estimated one
million Somalis, the emigration of thousands as refugees, and the
impoverishment of millions. Somalia turned into a source of regional
instability. After years of instability and negotiations the Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia was established in Kenya in October 2004.
This optimism dissipated over the next year as clan, tribal and other divisions
prevented the TFG from making any progress on state building tasks. In June
2006, after months of fighting between Mogadishu's US-backed militia leaders
and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), the UIC took control of the capital
city.
* Ethiopian and TFG forces retook Mogadishu on 28 December 2006, dissolving the
tenuous order brought to the city by UIC control, and continued their advance
to include the UIC's southern stronghold of Kismaayo.
* Somalia's Interim Government recognised by the AU and the rest of the world,
born in 2004, as a result of the Ethiopian intervention, this government is now
operating from Mogadishu.
* As the military conflict continued after the ousting of the UIC, the US
decided to launch air strikes against the retreating UIC personnel. A spokesman
for the US Embassy said the attacks were aimed at terrorists who may have
struck the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. "We are going to continue to
work in close co-operation with our allies in the region, who all understand
the importance of pursuing terrorist activities and denying them safe havens,"
he said. "Due to rapidly developing events in Somalia, US Central Command has
tasked USS Dwight D Eisenhower to join USS Bunker Hill, USS Anzio and USS
Ashland to support ongoing maritime security operations off the coast of
Somalia," said Navy Lt Cmdr Charlie Brown, a spokesman for the 5th Fleet in
Bahrain. The majority of the world, including the AU and the UN, has expressed
concern at this action, correctly asserting that this will not help to resolve
the crisis in Somalia and would add oil to the fires that are burning in Africa
and the Middle East.
* We believe that a political solution is absolutely vital and it is therefore
important that the Islamic Courts and the interim government settle their
differences through the negotiating table. The international community must
assist the Somalis to negotiate the future management of Somalia, to restore
peace and security, and to put the interests of Somalia above the interests of
clans or political parties or ideologies.
* The situation is volatile: correspondents have reported that explosions
could be heard in many areas of the city overnight.
* The violence comes as an AU delegation is in the city to discuss the
deployment of peacekeepers. The AU officials arrived in Somalia on Sunday, 14
January 2007 to finalise plans for a peacekeeping force as government troops
searched for weapons in the latest push to bring back order after weeks of
war.
* Transitional Government spokesperson Abduraman Dinari said, "They came to
meet with government officials in order to discuss how the African Union troops
could be deployed � they will visit several places in the country � and they'll
meet with senior government security officials. We hope the African troops will
be deployed as soon as possible."
* The UN Secretary-General has also called for the speedy deployment of African
peacekeepers in the country, and welcomed Ethiopia's statement that it intends
to withdraw its forces "expeditiously."
* Javier Solana, the European Unions's (EU's) foreign policy chief, said he
told United Nations Secretary-General on Monday that a UN peacekeeping force
may be needed to guarantee security and stability in Somalia, which has not had
a functioning government in 15 years.
* Solana said Ugandan forces may be the first deployed to replace Ethiopian
troops, but he said the African Union is already carrying a "very heavy"
peacekeeping burden in Sudan and elsewhere, and the UN may have to step in
instead of the AU and take over the next phase.
* Over the weekend the regional body IGAD sent envoys to eight African
countries, asking them to contribute to a proposed 8 000 strong peacekeeping
force � Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Tunisia, Algeria and
South Africa. A special envoy from Ethiopia has also visited South Africa for
discussions regarding an AU peacekeeping force.
* So far, only Uganda has offered troops � 1 500 � although it needs
parliamentary approval.
* President Mbeki said: "Yesterday (Sunday, 14 January 2007) again I met with
the foreign minister of Kenya who had been sent by the East Africa region. They
are requesting we should assist with the deployment of troops in Somalia. I did
say to the minister we will look at the matter this week� it's partly a matter
of capacity because we've got people deployed in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and we've got people deployed in Burundi, we've got people deployed
in Sudan."
Sudan
* On 22 December 2006 in a letter to the Former UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan, President El-Bashir informed the UN that Sudan supported the three-phase
plan, agreed to at Summits in Addis Ababa and Abuja in November, which
culminates in the hybrid force replacing the existing and under-staffed AU
monitoring mission known as the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). The new
force is expected to have about 17 000 troops and 3 000 police officers.
* Under the first phase of the agreement, the UN is providing a US$21 million
"light support package" to AMIS, which includes the provision of equipment as
well as military advisers, police officers and civilian staff from the UN
Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) � a separate peacekeeping operation mandated to
oversee a peace pact ending the 21 year war in the country's north.
* UNMIS handed over the first batch of equipment and supplies to AMIS on
Thursday, 11 January 2007 with the remainder expected to be delivered in the
coming weeks. The first batch included generators, tents, cookers, sleeping
bags, mosquito nets, ground positioning systems (GPS) and night-vision goggles.
Some 17 military advisors and 19 police officers are already in Darfur.
* The details of the second "heavy support" phase, which includes the provision
of staff and equipment are still being finalised.
* The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on Sunday, 14 January 2007 announced plans
to deploy a second group of 10 military staff officers to Darfur to support the
African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
* The new batch, set to be deployed on Monday, 15 January 2007, comes in
addition to 17 UN military staff officers and 19 UN police advisers who are
already in Darfur as part of a light support package for the thinly stretched
AMIS, which has been struggling to monitor the vast region � roughly the size
of France � where over 200 000 people have been killed since 2003 and more than
ten times that amount displaced by conflict.
* Under the US$21 million light support package, UNMIS is providing:
o 105 military staff officers
o 33 police advisers
o 48 civilian staff
o Equipment and supplies to the African peacekeepers.
* The next meeting of the Tripartite Mechanism (AMIS, UNMIS, the Government
of Sudan) will take place on 24 January 2007.
* United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Ban Ki-Moon on Thursday, 11 January
2007 said the Sudanese government remains committed to the deployment of a
hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.
* Special Envoy Jan Eliasson, former Swedish Foreign Minister, told reports
after his meeting with Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir that Sudanese
officials, including the President had agreed with him that the conflict could
only have a political solution and not a military one.
Burundi
* The central objective of the Burundi Peace Process was to bring the
Palipehutu-National Liberation Forces (FNL), the last remaining rebel movement
that was not part of the Arusha Agreement Accord of 2000 on board. The FNL
leader Mr Agathon Rwasa informed the Government of Burundi in early 2006 that
his movement was ready to hold peace negotiations to allow them to be included
in the new Government.
* The Government of Burundi requested South Africa to mediate the peace talks
between the two parties and to assist them to conclude the signing of the
ceasefire Agreement.
* Mr Charles Nqakula (Minster for Safety), was appointed by President Mbeki to
be the Chief Mediator of the peace process. The Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) Special Envoy for the Great lakes, Ambassador Mamabolo is the chief
political negotiator assisting Minister Nqakula. The peace negotiations
commenced in May 2006, in Tanzania.
* On 18 June 2006 the two parties signed the Dar Es Salaam Agreement of
Principles Towards Lasting Peace, Security and Stability in Burundi and the AU
expressed its satisfaction of the signing of the Agreement during its meeting
of 19 June 2006.
* During the 27th AU Summit of the Regional Peace Initiative on 7 September
2006, the two parties successfully concluded the signing of the Comprehensive
Ceasefire Agreement.
* The guarantors of the signing of the Agreement included President Thabo
Mbeki, President Yoweri Museveni and President Jakaya Kikwete.
* The Agreement which was officially announced on 11 October 2006 makes
provision for a Joint Verification Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) whish is aimed
at ensuring that the Ceasefire Agreement is implemented. The JVMM involves the
AU, the UN and the Burundian parties.
* The Facilitation Office and the JVMM have been created and have been
operational since October 2006. The budget support for this office is being
provided by the South African Government and is estimated at $3 300 000.
* The implementation phase includes: the development of a detailed Disarmament,
Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) plan, the signing of the necessary
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), deployment of the AU Special Task Force, the
establishment of the necessary administrative capacity, the accommodation of
the FNL leadership, the preparation on National Reconciliation Commission and
the drawing up of budgets.
* It should be noted that none of the FNL members attended the launching of the
JVMM because they needed to be granted provisional immunity. On 3 November
2006, the bill to grant provisional immunity to the FNL members was adopted by
the National Assembly.
* The list of the FNL combatants has still to be submitted to the mediator and
this delays the implementation process in terms of planning, budget, logistics,
etc. Estimations are that there are 3 000 combatants.
* The movement name "Palipehutu" creates problems. The Government of Burundi
refuses to use it arguing that the name promotes ethnicity and that it,
therefore could not be allowed to appear in any of the Burundian laws. However,
this matter has now been resolved.
* On 28 September 2006, the Government of Burundi requested the AU to provide
security to the FNL leaders.
* During its 65th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Addis
Ababa on 9 November 2006, the meeting took note of the provision of the
Ceasefire Agreement requesting the AU to establish a Special Task Force.
* The meeting further welcomed the willingness expressed by South Africa to
contribute to the establishment of the Special Task Force to protect the FNL
members.
* The AU Special Task Force's primary function will be to secure the safety of
the assembly areas.
* The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
have to be finalised in order to create the mandate for the Mission. This has
to be negotiated between the Government of Burundi and the AU Commission.
* The AU PSC has authorised the deployment of the AU Protection Force and this
will serve as the most important confidence-building measure for the
implementation of the CCFA.
* South Africa has availed itself to be the lead in the Protection Force. The
force is expected to be in place for 6 months with the first troop rotation to
take place in February 2007.
* The South African Battalion that served under the UN Mission in Burundi
(ONUB) has been re-hatted under the AU mandate when the UN mandate came to an
end on 31 December 2006 and the UN has agreed not to remove some of its
logistical facilities. [The final South African National Defence Force (SANDF)
in Burundi will be 1 300 strong with 100 on standby in South Africa.]
* South Africa is also in consultation with the government of Burundi for a
post conflict reconstruction and development partnership.
Alleged Coup Plot
* A Burundian court on Monday, 15 January 2007 acquitted former President
Domitien Ndayizeye and four others of charges they plotted a coup in the tiny
central African country.
* The ruling said two remaining defendants, a former rebel leader and a
civilian would have to serve jail terms over a conspiracy to kill President
Pierre Nkurunziza and overthrow his government.
* Former rebel leader Alain Mugabarabona, whom the persecution accused of being
the mastermind of the plot, will have to serve 20 years in jail.
* Co-defendant Tharcisse Ndayishimiye, who had told the court he attended
meetings with the others, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
* On 22 September 2006, a new 500-member National Assembly was inaugurated
in the DRC, replacing the transitional parliament that was created by the 2002
Global and All-Inclusive Agreement. This constituted a landmark development in
the history of the DRC, being the first democratically elected Parliament in
over forty years.
* The Provincial Assemblies which are to elect local governments in the DRC's
11 provinces were established on 18 December 2006 throughout the country. As
part of the DRC's decentralising strategy, the Provincial Parliaments will take
responsibility for local politics and key economic activities.
* Mr Vital Kamerhe was elected President of the National Assembly on 28
December 2006 with Mr Antoine Gizenga being appointed, by means of a
Presidential Ordinance, as Prime Minister on 30 December 2006. Both Mr Kamerhe
and Mr Gizenga are part of the dominant AMP-PALU-UDEMO coalition that has
formed a majority in the National Assembly.
* Mr Gizenga is presently engaged in consultations to form a new government
that will consist of 57 Minister and Deputy-Minister posts.
* The successful conclusion of democratic elections in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) marked the official end of the transitional period and initiated
a development process. Understandably, the new administration in the DRC will
face huge post election challenges, including uniting the country, finalisation
towards forming a credible national army and police, capacity building of its
bureaucracy, capacitated judicial system, provision of basic services through
functioning provincial and local governance, economic reconstruction and
development, etc.
* South Africa is to assist the DRC in post conflict reconstruction projects
aimed at laying the foundation for social justice and sustainable peace in the
DRC. The support programmes to sustain development and prosperity in the DRC,
are meant to set the foundation for a stable political and security environment
that is needed to take the country forward.
* South African assistance is to concentrate on four key areas, i.e.:
o Security Sector Reform (SSR) - The Security Sector Reform is of vital
importance to the current transition in the DRC. The history of violent
conflict is an indicator for future relapse into conflict. The first year after
a conflict is when a country is most at risk of relapse. The integration of the
armed forces is an attempt to avoid historical rivalries and to unite the
former combatants. In the post election DRC, an integrated armed force is
essential to protect the sovereignty of the country. A capable police force is
also essential for maintaining law and order within the country.
o Institutional Capacity Building � The following Departments are involved in
projects in the DRC � the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs,
Provincial and Local Government, Public Service and Administration and
Housing.
o Economic Development � The following Departments are involved in projects in
the DRC � the Departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Transport,
Minerals and Energy and Water Affairs and Forestry.
o Humanitarian Assistance � there might be a need for South Africa to encourage
South African civil society organisations to get involved in this area of
assistance.
* South Africa reiterates its calls for the International community to remain
engaged in the DRC. The Security Council is still to discuss the renewing of
the mandate of MONUC (The UN's peacekeeping force in the DRC), scheduled to end
on 15 February 2007.
Cote d'Ivoire
* President Gbagbo's five proposals: Following public consultations for two
weeks from the 7 � 21 November 2006, President Gbagbo on 19 December 2006 made
five proposals to help break the impasse in resolving the crisis:
o Direct negotiations with the rebels regarding the disarmament and
re-unification of the country.� Negotiations to be completed by the end of
January 2007.
o The cancellation of the confidence zone because the military co-operation has
ceased.
o Creation of a national civic service for the youth � plan to recruit 40 000
youth by the end of February 2007, for period of 18 months of skills
training
o General amnesty
o Aid programme for the return of the displaced war victims.
International Working Group
* The 12th ministerial meeting of the International Working Group was held
in Abidjan on 12 January 2007.
* The Group notes that the said process has totally stalled mainly because
of:
o Identification
o DDR
o The dismantling and disarmament of the militias
o The redeployment of the administration
o The restructuring of the armed forces
o Preparations for credible elections
* Taking into account the proposal for direct dialogue, made by the Head of
State, the Group reaffirms its commitment to permanent consultation between the
Ivorian parties with a view to the total implementation of Resolution 1721.
This dialogue must be an opportunity to discuss substantive issues for the
resolution of the crisis:
o Identification
o DDR
o The dismantling and disarmament of the militias
o The redeployment of the administration
o The restructuring of the armed forces
o Preparations for credible elections throughout the national territory.
* The Group expresses its deep concern that the current impasse is
prolonging the suffering of the population, exacerbating political and social
tensions and threatening to destabilise the West African sub-region. The group
suggests the following measures to the Security Council:
o To urge the current chairmen of AU and the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) to convene meetings, as soon as possible, of the main
Ivorian parties, in order to unblock the situation and re-launch the
implementation of Resolution 1721
o To dispatch an ad hoc mission to the Security Council
* The Group will hold its next meeting on 23 February 2007 in Cote
d'Ivoire
* The ECOWAS Summit will be held in Burkina Faso on Friday, 19 February
2007.
UN Security Council vote on Myanmar
* Let me say at the outset, we are deeply concerned at the situation in
Myanmar.
* We will continue to call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and to fight for
the restoration of democracy, for human rights and freedom in Myanmar.
* Let me explain why we voted against the resolution:
o The first reason is that we believe that this resolution will compromise
the "good offices" of the Secretary-General in dealing with sensitive matters
of peace, security and human rights. The General Assembly established the "good
offices" mission of the Secretary-General to make it possible for the UN to
establish a channel for private and confidential communication. The commendable
work done by Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Professor Ibrahim
Gambari, in Myanmar has been through utilising the "good offices" of the
Secretary-General. This resolution, should it be adopted, may close forever the
window of hope and communication opened by Professor Gambari.
o The second reason is that this resolution deals with issues that would be
best left to the Human Rights Council. The Non-Aligned Countries and the G77
and China consistently voiced concern at the tendency of the Security Council
to encroach on the mandate of the other United Nations entities. Overall the
draft resolution contains information that would be best left to the Human
Rights Council. Ironically, should the Security Council adopt this resolution
it would mean that the Human Rights Council would not be able to address the
situation in Myanmar while the Security Council remains seized with the
matter.
o The third and most fundamental reason is that this resolution does not fit
with the Charter mandate conferred upon the Security Council which is to deal
with matters that are a threat to international peace and security.
It is worth recalling that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) has stated that Myanmar is not a threat to international peace and
security. On 11 January 2007 the ASEAN Ministers meeting in the Philippines
reaffirmed that Myanmar is no threat to international peace and security.
We did not question, judge or comment on the content of this resolution.
It remains our concern that the Security Council deal with matters affecting
international peace and security and not overlap with matters best dealt with
by other offices of the UN.
This matter would have created a precedence that will be very difficult to
sustain and create challenges for the UN Security Council in the long run.
African Union
Seeing that many matters on the agenda of the Security Council deal with
Africa, the forthcoming African Union Summit and related meetings have renewed
significance.
Ministerial Meeting
Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Tuesday, 23 January 2007
depart for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where she will lead a senior South African
government delegation to the 10th Ordinary Ministerial session of the African
Union scheduled from Thursday � Friday, 25-26 January 2007.
Issues on the agenda of discussions are expected to include, among
others:
* Chairperson of the African Union in 2007
* The draft budget of the organisation
* Peace, security and stability on the continent including the situation in
Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Ethiopia-Eritrea, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan
* Africa � Europe dialogue
* The situation in the Middle East and Palestine.
Summit
South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Foreign Minister Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will lead a senior South African government delegation
to the 8th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government and 6th
African Peer Review Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia scheduled from Sunday �
Tuesday, 28-30 January 2007.
African Peer Review Forum (APRF)
President Mbeki will attend the 6th African Peer Review Forum and the NEPAD
Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) meeting in Addis
Ababa on Sunday, 28 January 2007.
It is expected that the country report of South Africa will be presented at
the APRF on Sunday, 28 January 2007.
The Forum will examine cross-cutting issues as well as core issues of
general application to a number of countries arising out of the African Peer
Review Mechanism (APRM) reports of the countries already peer reviewed.
Issues on the agenda of the APRF will include:
* Peer review of South Africa
* First Annual Report on Implementation of Ghana's Programme of Action
* Statement on the Implementation of the Rwanda Programme of Action
* Statement on the Implementation of Kenya's Programme of Action.
African union Summit of Heads of state and Government
The 2007 Summit will focus on two main themes:
* The role of Science, Technology and Scientific Research for the
Development of Africa
* Climate change in Africa.
The Summit will serve as a platform from which to launch 2007 as the
International year of African football. In this regard, the Khartoum Summit in
January 2006, declared 2007 as the International Year of African Football. The
Confederation of African Football (CAF) will, in 2007, also celebrate its 50th
Anniversary and the FIFA 2010 World Cup will be launched as an African
event.
In addition, African Union Heads of State and Government are expected to
adopt the budget of the Organisation for 2007.
World Economic Forum
President Thabo Mbeki will on Thursday, 25 January 2007 depart for Davos,
Switzerland where he will attend the annual World Economic Forum under the
banner "Shaping the Global Agenda," scheduled from Thursday � Sunday, 25-28
January 2007.
President Mbeki will be supported by Ministers Mandisi Mpahlwa and Trevor
Manuel.
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting offers a unique opportunity for
leaders from all walks of life � business, government, the media, academia, the
arts and civil society � to shape the global agenda for 2007. In this regard,
Davos 2007 will focus on the following issues:
* driving growth
* scaling up sustainable solutions
* addressing global fault lines
* exploring identity and the communication disconnect
* defining leadership mandates and the power of the network.
Accordingly President Mbeki will on Friday, 26 January 2007 participate in a
session entitled "Africa Sets a New Pace," during which discussions are
expected to focus on, among others, how resource-rich economies can be
incentivised to introduce good governance systems, and which successful
non-resource driven economies can provide models for growth and what strategies
are needed to support and sustain growth?
Questions and answers
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, regarding Somalia � what kind of assistance
will South Africa render to Somalia � this is not a peacekeeping mission, this
will be a peace force � will this be a consideration when Cabinet is making its
decision?
Answer: The reality is that there has been no effective governance in Somalia
for many years � there are conflicts between clans, tribes and other external
influences. This further complicates the situation. A political solution is the
only way forward. If an African force is necessary to ensure the political
processes can follow, then is that must be done.
The AU and UN are suggesting that the conflict in the main has ended � we
await the report of the AU team (of which a South African is part) on this
matter.
South Africa is heavily stretched in terms of support for peace processes �
we have troops in 4-5 peacekeeping operations � I do not know of many other
countries that are as stretched as we are. It is our internal potential and the
nature of what is needed in Somalia that will determine our response.
Question: Deputy Minister, when do you anticipate a decision will be taken
on troop deployment to Somalia � is the SANDF looking at what we can provide to
Somalia?
Answer: South Africa is constantly assessing what it can do to support peace
missions. We do this on a regular basis and this is not confined only to
Somalia. We expect that since the Ethiopian forces want to withdraw as soon as
possible (by the end of the week according to some reports) the AU should be
able to replace these forces as soon as possible. However, I am not sure it
will be possible to assemble the troops and the necessary logistical
arrangements quickly. To date, only Uganda has volunteered 1 500 troops and
this has to be ratified by Parliament.
It is therefore very interesting to note the comments of the EU Foreign
Policy Chief Javier Solana that the UN may be required to support this
initiative.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, what would be the nature of the military
support provided to Somalia?
Answer: It has been estimated that 8 000 AU troops will be required. The
details have not been fully worked out yet � we are awaiting the report of the
political and military fact-finding mission that is presently in Somalia.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, is South Africa looking at sending military
equipment to Somalia?
Answer: We are looking at supporting this initiative holistically � when this
matter is discussed at the appropriate level in the AU, then South Africa can
assess what is required and how it can contribute.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, I have heard your explanation of your vote
with regard to Myanmar � South Africa is the only country who felt like it did
� why did it not simply abstain like other countries?
Answer: Although three countries Indonesia, Qatar and Congo abstained, there
was no difference in our positions as to why the matter should not be brought
to the Security Council � we chose not to abstain since an abstention does not
allow for an adequate explanation. We could easily have abstained easily since
the joint veto of China and Russia, the first in history, would have been
enough. We wanted to bring our principled position to the fore regarding a
matter that has been the cause of some concern for quite a while.
We do not want the Security Council to deal with matters that they are not
mandated to deal with in terms of the Charter and should be handled by other UN
instruments.
We did not however want to be ambiguous in our position � viz. that the
United Nations Security Council should not be seized with matters that do not
threaten international peace and security and that are better handled by other
UN bodies. We wanted to assert this principle and position hence we chose to
vote against the resolution.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, when does the UN mandate in Burundi
end?
Answer: It ended on 31 December 2006 � our forces are now being re-hatted as
part of the African. This is a further reason why we are so stretched. We will
have a rotation in February.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, with regard to Cote d'Ivoire � a group of
experts has just concluded an investigation in terms of the arms embargo. It
has been found that a South Africa and a Belgian are in breach of this embargo.
What will the South African government do to address this matter?
Answer: The UN team has concluded its investigation � one of the findings has
been that the UN does not have sufficient resources to effectively monitor the
arms embargo. The contravention by a South African is being investigated.
I am often surprised by the instances of misinformation with regard to some
situations � for example, there have been reports that South African Defence
Force members have been in Cote d'Ivoire with nefarious intent. Let me explain,
once our mediation ended, our troops and all related logistical support had to
be withdrawn. A team of defence ministry personnel did visit Cote d'Ivoire to
facilitate this � but they did so in fully uniform and stayed in the same hotel
as other officials � there could have been no nefarious intent.
Let me reiterate � we have no interests in the region beyond assisting the
people of Cote d'Ivoire implement and resolve outstanding issues and prepare to
hold credible elections.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, there are reports that the Chinese
President will be visiting Africa soon � can you confirm this � what would be
the objective of him visiting Africa again within such a short time?
Answer: Yes, the President will visit Africa � he will visit 7 countries of
which South Africa will be one. We will do a fuller briefing next week.
The recent China-Africa Forum has given new impetus to relations between
Africa and China and you quite rightly notice that this has been the first
sustained period during which so many senior Chinese officials have visited
South Africa and Africa. I would say that the visit will be focused on
consolidating relations between Africa and China in terms of the outcomes of
the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) Summit.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, what is the status of the kidnapped South
Africans in Iraq? And the casualty rate? What are your views on the execution
of Saddam Hussein?
Answer: We do not have a mission in Iraq and rely on reports from our Mission
in Jordan. To date we have been advised that the South Africans are still alive
and negotiations are continuing.
The UN yesterday released a report that 34 000 civilians have died in the
last year � we think this is an underestimation � just yesterday 70 students
were killed when a car bomb exploded. It is clear that Iraq is in a state of
civil war.
Regarding the execution of Saddam Hussein � you know our views � we have
clearly said we oppose the death penalty. South Africa joined many countries,
including the Vatican in condemning the way in which Saddam Hussein was
executed. Yesterday, two other defendants were executed. The manner of the
execution is one of which we must be aware and criticise. It has only served to
inflame the situation in Iraq � the Sunni-Shiite tensions have been raised to
new heights. We do believe that more than a military solution is required.
For further information, please contact:
Manusha Pillai
Department of Foreign Affairs: Media Liaison
Tel: (012) 351 0269
Cell: 082 389 3587
E-mail: pillaim@foreign.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
17 January 2007
