Aziz Pahad, Union Buildings, Pretoria
7 December 2006
South African Pilgrims to Hajj
* After the letter from President Mbeki to King Abdullah of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, the government of Saudi Arabia has increased the quota of the
number of Muslim pilgrims from an initial amount of 2 000 to 4 000 and now to 7
600.
* We are very happy and we want to extend our gratitude the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia for increasing the quota.
* We now call on the organisers of the pilgrims to really ensure that the
people benefit from this response by the King.
* We hope we will now be able to deal with the demand of people wanting to
journey to Mecca for the pilgrimage.
President Mbeki to hold discussions with President Bush in Washington
* President Mbeki is en-route to Washington where he will tomorrow meet
President Bush and his delegation for bilateral political and economic
discussions.
* This comes at a very important time because we will have an opportunity to
discuss our bilateral relations and also other major issues that we are
confronted with on a daily basis; this is a very important visit coming at this
time.
* President Mbeki did hold discussions with President Bush in Washington last
year. This will bring an opportunity for us to review decisions taken at that
time and to see what else should be done to consolidate our bilateral
relations.
* It will also be an opportunity for President Mbeki to meet with the
leadership of the Democratic Party who have won both the Congress and the
Senate and therefore give him an opportunity to get a sense of their thinking
about developments in Africa and elsewhere.
* We do think the United States is one of our major economic partners. Trade is
today something to the tune of R60 billion and it has been increasing at about
11% a year. This does indicate that the United States is an important partner.
South Africa is one of the biggest beneficiaries in Africa of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programme. This meeting will also give us an
opportunity to review the AGOA programme, to look at the New Partnership for
Africa's Development (NEPAD) issues and most importantly to look at
developments in the Middle East and Iraq - the Baker report has just been
published - and the African Development issues - NEPAD, conflict situations in
Africa - we are working very closely with the US in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and other conflict situations. This is therefore a very important
visit for us.
South Africa � Mali Joint Commission for Co-operation
* Minister Dlamini-Zuma will together with her counterpart Foreign Minister
Moctar Ouane, co-chair the second session of the South Africa � Mali Joint
Commission for Co-operation in Bamako, Mali from Sunday to Monday, 10 to 11
December 2006.
* As you know, Mali is one of the poorer countries on the Continent and we are
engaged in efforts to assist Mali bilaterally and through trilateral
co-operation.
* Two major South African gold mining companies, Anglogold and Randgold, are
present in Mali. Anglogold operates three gold mining operations: Yatela (in
the southwest of Mali), Sadiola (near the town of Kayes in the extreme west of
Mali) and Morila (200 kilometres south of Bamako) which it operates jointly
with Randgold. The Malian government holds shares of 20% in Yatela and Morila
and 18% in Sadiola.
* While the trade figures between South Africa and Mali to a large extent
reflect the activities of these two mining companies (i.e. the exports of
machinery and base metals to Mali), South Africa's main import products from
Mali are textiles and textile articles.
* Our trade relations with Mali in 2003 was R177,6 million and in 2005 it
increased to R445,8 million.
* Our imports from Mali are still too low; in 2005 it was R5,8 million. We must
look at this balance and at how we can assist Mali diversify their economy and
export more to South Africa.
President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus to pay state visit to South
Africa
* President Thabo Mbeki will host his counterpart from the Czech Republic
President Vaclav Klaus on the first ever State Visit, by a Head of State from
the Czech Republic and Head of State from a Central European country, to South
Africa scheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday, 12 to 13 December 2006. President
Klaus will visit Pretoria and Cape Town while in South Africa.
* The Czech Republic is one of the new members of the European Union and this
will be a good opportunity to once again assess the importance of the expansion
of the European Union and the possibility of forming a strategic partnership
between the European Union (EU) and South Africa. It is always helpful to
discuss with the newer members to get a sense of their perspectives on the many
issues we have been previously dealing with.
* Again our trade links are not as substantive as we think they should be:
1. 2004: Exports to South Africa: US$71,9 million
2. 2005: Imports from South Africa: US$132,9 million
3. 2004: Exports to South Africa: US$157,8 million
4. 2005: Imports from South Africa: US$134,9 million.
* This is however not bad in relation to newly developed relations. We do
believe that we can increase our economic links with the Czech Republic.
Mauritanian elections
* We are very happy that the Mauritanian elections have been concluded
successfully.
* This follows the coup that took place in Mauritania.
* The African Union (AU) had suspended Mauritania from all activities but in
terms of our policies we assisted them to move towards a situation where
democracy could be re-established.
* Elections have taken place, the results indicates that a coalition of former
opposition parties have won more than 40% of the seats and it is clear that
democracy is being re-established.
* The military head will only leave his position after the Presidential
elections are held in March 2007 and we believe that we assist, as the AU, and
bilaterally to move expeditiously towards democracy.
* The elections were conducted peacefully and all indications are that they
were free and fair.
* A new constitutions which ensured that no President could serve more than a
decade was approved in June and the military junta has pledged to give up power
after the Senate elections in January.
* Parliament will only go into session after the Presidential elections.
* We are also happy that the military government barred its members from
participating in the elections in order to ensure transparency and
non-interference in electoral processes. This is a very good sign, and
indicates that we are moving in the right direction.
* We did have an observer team who were part of the AU mission; their
preliminary reports indicate that everything proceeded smoothly. There was no
challenge to the results. We now hope that Mauritania will return to the
African Union to play its role within the communities of the AU.
Madagascan elections
* We did send a Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer
mission to the Madagascan elections.
* According to our Mission, all proceeded well and the process was credible
despite some problems in some areas.
* The Election Institute of Southern Africa has also presented a positive
report.
* The results are not yet final but the incumbent is leading by 60% at the
moment and it continues to increase.
* We are again happy that South Africa assisted by providing helicopters which
assisted in distributing election materials and ensured that the ballot papers
can be returned without interference.
* South Africa has again played an important role in another election on the
Continent.
* This is a good sign of the progress we are making on the African
continent.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
* As you know President Mbeki yesterday attended the inauguration of
President Kabila in Kinshasa. Indeed, I think this brings to an end a very
important period in the history of the DRC.
* The results of the provincial elections were announced on Friday, 1 December
2006. Of the 632 contested seats, People's Party for Reconstruction and
Democracy (PPRD) won 132 seats, Liberation of Congo (MLC) won 104 seats. The
balance of the seats is divided among other parties. In Kinshasa, of the 44
seats, Movement for MLC received 22 seats against eight of PPRD. It is clear
that coalition governments will be formed to govern in many provinces. We are
happy that negotiations to achieve this objective have started.
* I want to reiterate what President Mbeki said: President Kabila's
inauguration yesterday paves the way for him to appoint a Prime Minister from
among the Members of Parliament, who will then proceed to compose the new
government of the DRC. December 2006 should therefore stand out as the month
when the DRC will inaugurate its new, elected President, its new, elected
Government and its new, elected Senate, and convene the critical first sessions
of the National Assembly.
* We believe that the enormous resources in the DRC will enable it to play in
the reconstruction and development of Africa.
* We must also congratulate Jean-Pierre Bemba for his acceptance of the
historical outcome that has given him and his colleagues the possibility to
consolidate and strengthen the Congolese democratic order, and expand the
possibility of the Congolese people to define their future, by playing their
role as a loyal republican opposition to those mandated by the people to rule.
Similarly, we salute him for the contribution he and his colleagues have made
to the success of the challenging mission to bring into being the new
DRC.
* We also salute the various formations and the leaders who guided the DRC
through its transition, weathering many storms, including continuing armed
violence, to the point the country has now reached, when it can proudly and
justly claim its place as one of the largest democracies on our
continent.
* We must also salute the United Nations which has played and continues to play
a critical role in the various processes that have enabled the Congolese people
to make history, standing tall today as a messenger of hope, communicating the
message that Africa is firmly on its way towards its rebirth.
* The confidence and the determination to succeed of the Congolese people were
amply demonstrated when millions voted in a referendum to approve the
Constitution, and returned to the polls to elect the President, the National
Assembly and the Provincial Legislatures.
* South Africa is again pleased that it has played a role in the
democratisation of the DRC; you will recall we hosted the Sun City Talks which
led to the formation of a transitional government and we have been very closely
involved in the processes in the DRC to this period.
* We now welcome a democratically elected President and the new government of
the Congo as full participants in the African Union and the NEPAD
programmes.
* We are concerned about the fighting that has broken out on the 5 December
between dissident soldiers allied to the former Army Chief and the regular army
in the eastern province of North Kivu. We know that this has been going on for
a few days. Thousands of refugees have left their areas; we hope the UN and the
Congolese army will be able to restore peace so that we can get on with the
process of reconstruction and development in the DRC.
Darfur
* We are continuing to be concerned about the situation in Darfur.
* As you know, given the latest fighting in the El Fasher, the capital of
Sudan's Northern Darfur State, the UN has withdrawn all its non-essential
workers and they will continue to withdraw more personnel if peace is not
restored.
* The African Union has also warned that there are reports that its
headquarters and staff in El Fasher are at risk of being attacked by a
coalition of Darfur rebel groups, so it continues to be a matter of serious
concern to us.
* The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is scheduled hold a special session to
discuss the situation in Darfur early next week. This was agreed to by 29 of
the 49 member states including all 10 European countries and nine African
countries including Nigeria. South Africa supported the motion for this special
session.
* The move follows pressure from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who warned
that the reputation of the body was at stake if it did not act on serious
violations.
* On the more positive side, let me say that the AU Peace and Security Council
summit on Darfur in Abuja last week:
a. Decided to endorse the conclusions of the Addis Ababa High Level
Consultation on the situation in Darfur of 16 November 2006 which provides for
a three phased UN support to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS):
1. A light support package
2. A heavy support package
3. A hybrid operation
b. With respect to the Hybrid operation, Council decided that:
1. The Special Representative shall be jointly appointed by the Chairperson
of the Commission of the African Union and the Secretary-General of the UN,
after appropriate consultations as per the practice.
2. The Force Commander, who should be an African, shall be appointed by the
Chairperson of the Commission in consultation with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations.
3. The Mission shall benefit from UN backstopped and command and control
structures and systems.
4. The size of the force shall be determined by the African Union and the
United Nations, taking into account all relevant factors and the situation on
the ground, as well as the requirements for it to effectively discharge its
mandate.
5. Decided to extend the mandate of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS)
for a period of six months from 1 January 2007, subject to review by Council
and based on the availability of financial resources.
* We have been saying that although pledges are being made, the AMIS has not
received sufficient resources to do its work. The situation in Darfur requires
an international response that the international community accept the UN
resolution which has now been endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Council
Summit. The time has come for decisive action and that if this decision of the
Peace and Security Council is implemented we can see some movement in bringing
peace and security to Darfur.
Developments in Cote d'Ivoire
* As I said in my last briefing, we are concerned that the situation seems
to be unravelling.
* President Gbagbo, after the Security Council Resolution, started public
consultations regarding the way forward in the peace process. President Gbagbo
was expected to have addressed the nation on the basis of these
consultations.
* In the meantime, President Gbagbo:
1. Signed a decree reinstating officials suspended because of the toxic
waste scandal.
2. Signed a decree firing the Editor in Chief of the Fraternite Matin, a state
owned daily.
3. Fired the Director-General of the Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne (RTI)
(Yakouba Kebe)
* Some background: the Prime Minister suspended three officials (Djedji
Amondji, Marcel Gossio, Colonel Gnamien N'Goran) for three months for their
alleged involvement in the toxic waste scandal.
Response from the Prime Minister:
* In reaction to these decrees on 27 November 2006, the Director-General of
the Prime Minister's office read a statement on national television denouncing
President Gbagbo's decision to reinstate the suspended officials and stated
that the decrees were issued without any consultation with the Prime Minister
and the government. According to Prime Minister Banny, it was not correct for a
Head of State to have signed the concerned decrees on a Sunday, 26 November,
without calling for a Council of Minister's meeting. Mr Banny wrote that the
decision to reinstate the three officials was like supporting impunity and the
suspension of the Editor in Chief of Fraternite Matin was an infringement of
the freedom of the press. Prime Minister Banny warned that the decisions of the
Head of State could give rise to social upheavals if they were
implemented.
* President Gbagbo's office has responded by issuing a statement refuting the
Prime Minister's claims that the decrees were incorrect and that he was not
informed about the decrees. Presidential decrees are allowed according to the
Constitution.
* As you recall when the Security Council Resolution was passed, I did indicate
that there were differences in interpretations in that particular
resolution.
* The opposition parties have come out in full support of the Prime Minister
and the youth of the RHDP gave President Gbagbo a 48 hour ultimatum to reverse
the decrees or the RHDP youth would take to the streets. On Thursdsay, 30
November 2006, there were reports of demonstrations and blockades by the RHDP
youth in two suburbs of Abidjan. The opposition also demonstrated in towns like
Yamassoukro Toumodj and Dabou. In Toumodi demonstrators destroyed the local
office of the ruling party.
* The President has indicated that with regard to Resolution 1721, he will
honour only those clauses, which respect the Ivorian Constitution, as the
Resolution upholds the inviolability of the Constitution. So clearly, we are
reaching a situation where there are differences in interpretation. We really
hope that relations between the President and the Prime Minister, which were
very good until recently can be restored, because it is only a close working
relationship between the President and the Prime Minister that will ensure a
peaceful situation that will culminate in elections next year.
* The International Working Group (IWG) met in Abidjan on 1 December
2006:
* The Group recalled the obligation which it has to report immediately to the
Security Council any obstacle or problem that the Prime Minister might
encounter in the exercise of his functions and to identify those responsible.
This direction indicates that names will be forwarded to the Security Council
so that sanctions can be applied against those individuals.
* The IWG also stated that the Prime Minister, at his convenience, will judge,
in all matters, whether it is opportune for him to take the necessary decisions
in the Council of Ministers or in the Council of Government.
* The Group welcomed the recommendations made by the National Commission of
Inquiry into the dumping of toxic waste and understands the deep
dissatisfaction which the reinstatement of officials who had been suspended by
the Prime Minister has caused within the population.
* The Group recalls that resolution 1721 requires full compliance by all
Ivorian parties and that no legal provisions should be invoked by them to
obstruct the process. The IWG is therefore challenging President Gbagbo's
interpretation of the Resolution.
* The Group deplores the dismissal of the General Directors of the RTI and
Fraternite Matin as well as the dissolution of the Boards of directors of the
companies concerned. The Group considers that it is indispensable to reinstate
the dismissed officials.
* The IWG called for the re-launching of the process of pre-identification. The
government and the relevant authorities should re-launch the issuing of
substitute birth certificates and certificates of nationality in the existing
jurisdictions. These measures should be taken by 10 December 2006 at the
latest.
* Disarmament and demobilisation of ex-combatants, Dismantling and Disarmament
of Militias (DDM). The Group demands that the parties controlling the militias
and ex-combatants fully participate in the Disarmament, Demobilisation and
Reintegration (DDR) and DDM processes led by the Prime Minister. The
rehabilitation of the sites must be completed by 15 December 2006.
* Reform of the security sector: The Working Group on the reform of the
security sector should also be set up by 5 December 2006 at the latest. No
indication yet of its establishment.
* The Group also reminds all Ivorian parties that it is determined to recommend
to the Security Council the implementation of appropriate sanctions against any
person who obstructs the effective start-up of the implementation of resolution
1721, including through incitements to hatred and violence.
* The Group will hold its next meeting on 12 January 2007 in Cote
d'Ivoire.
* As I said, I am concerned that if we do not move quite quickly to ensure that
we create an environment for the correct and common understanding of Resolution
1721 and if the relations between the President and Prime Minister are not
improved, we are on a collision course in Cote d'Ivoire, which is regrettable
considering the progress we had made until just recently.
Uganda
* United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has named former Mozambican
President Joachim Chissano his Special Envoy to help deal with the issued of
the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and its brutal 20 year long rebellion.
* United Nations Secretary-General noted that the LRA insurgency had caused the
death and abduction of thousands of civilians, displaced more than 1,5 million
people in northern Uganda, and severely disrupted humanitarian operations in
southern Sudan: "It's presence and activities in the north-eastern part of the
DRC also represent a serious security threat for the civilian population and
the region."
* Mr Chissano, as Special Envoy for the LRA-affected areas, will seek a
solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and will liaise with
the International Criminal Court, where LRA leader Joseph Kony and four other
senior figures have been indicted for war crimes.
Iraq
* We remain seriously concerned about the escalation of violence.
* It is unacceptable that so many people are being killed on a daily
basis.
* I want to reiterate what has been said by the UN Secretary-General. The
invasion of Iraq was extremely difficult, because I really believed that we
could have stopped the war and that if we had worked a bit harder, given the
inspectors a bit more time, we could have.
I was also concerned that for the US and its coalition to go to war without
the consent of the Council in that particular region, which has always been
extremely controversial, would be extremely difficult and very divisive and
that it would take quite a long time to put the organisation back together, and
of course it divided the world too.
It is an extremely dangerous situation
The struggle is about each group's position in future Iraq, which during the
Constitution was swept under the rug. A few years ago we had strife in Lebanon,
we called that a civil war, this is much worse.
The Iraqi's have reacted to this statement since the Secretary-General seems
to have indicated that the Iraqis are worse off today than under Saddam
Hussein.
It is a terrible situation
* The report of the bipartisan group led by James Baker and Lee Hamilton has
just been released. We are still studying this report.
Outcomes/findings of Baker Report
* The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating.
* If the situation continues to deteriorate, the consequences will be severe. A
slide towards chaos could trigger the collapse of Iraq's government and a
humanitarian catastrophe.
* The US should immediately launch a new diplomatic offensive to build an
international consensus for stability in Iraq and the region Iraq's neighbours
and key states in and outside the region should form a support group to
reinforce security and national reconciliation within Iraq.
* The US cannot achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals with the
Arab-Israeli conflict and regional stability.
* There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the US to a comprehensive
Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts; this commitment must include direct talks
with, by, and between Israel, Lebanon and Palestinians (those who accept
Israel's right to exist), and Syria.
* By the first quarter of 2008, subject to unexpected developments in the
security situation on the ground, all combat brigades not necessary for
protection could be out of Iraq.
* President Bush as such accepted the report. We eagerly await the
implementation of the recommendations in the report. It is obvious that the
situation cannot continue as is, since it threatens international peace and
security.
* Given the strategic place in that region, we have to move decisively to bring
about a long term solution to the Iraqi conflict.
Security Council: United action needed to protect civilians in armed
conflict
Jan Egeland, Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs
* Over the past three years he has been encouraged to see that concern for
civilians' protection has steadily gained prominence.
* It was imperative that the safety, security and wellbeing of civilians must
be at the heart of the approach to international security and crisis
management.
* The organisation was still "far away" from translating its responsibility in
that regard into predictable and adequate action to provide protection for all
beleaguered and threatened communities, irrespective of time, place and
circumstance. The responsibility to protect must be depoliticised. He was
seeing vast progress in Liberia, Sierra Leone, in the DRC and south
Sudan.
* The readiness to act, to sanction and to fund must be the same in Uganda,
Chad or Cote d'Ivoire as it was in Afghanistan, Kosovo or Iraq. The
responsibility to protect must transcend singular interests and become a core
principle of humanity across all civilisations.
* When the lives and safety of civilians were at stake, regardless of where,
neither strategic nor economic or other political interests should deter
council members from acting swiftly upon their united responsibility to
protect.
* Since December 2003, there had been a steady decline in the number of
conflicts; the number had declined by 40% since 1989. Yet, parties to conflict
had increasingly demonstrated a wilful disregard for the basic tenets of
international humanitarian law. Civilians had frequently become a primary
source of violence.
* Violent attacks against non-combatants have increased by 55% between 1989 and
2005, with the most significant increase occurring in the past five
years.
* Reasons: proliferation of non-State and information armed groups and their
supply of ever more sophisticated weaponry and equipment; intentional, reckless
and oftentimes disproportionate use of military weaponry and tactics with
little or no regard for their impact on civilians.
* For example:
1. Iraq
2. Gaza
* Use of cluster munitions by anyone, was immoral.
* In southern Lebanon alone, there were more than a million unexploded bomblets
that lay hidden in fields, olive groves and gardens, causing one of the biggest
impediments to a speedy return of the displaced and rapid reconstruction of
homes and livelihoods.
* Urged Council members to support a moratorium on the use of cluster
munitions.
* Arbitrary arrest and detention, verbal and physical abuse, and bureaucratic
impediments were used by authorities worldwide to restrict access to
populations in need. The most brutal means of denying access was the deliberate
targeting of humanitarian workers. Individual incidents were shocking, and the
overall trends were even more alarming. In 1997 39 humanitarian workers had
been killed. By 2005, the figure had risen to an annual toll of 61 members for
the media are increasingly subjected to attack. In Iraq alone, 26 journalists
had been killed this year.
* His second long-term concern was protection. While the global refugee
population had dropped by 20% in the past three years, the number of internally
displaced persons had declined by six percent in 2005. In recent months new
waves of displacement had occurred in many countries.
* In at least 12 countries, six million internally displaced people received no
assistance or protection from their governments.
* Third concern: sexual violence - rape and sexual violence were increasingly
deliberate and a devastating weapon against individuals and targeted
communities.
* Despite recent groundbreaking indictments by the International Criminal Court
for the use of rape as war crime, sexual violence continued unchecked and
unchallenged.
* Child soldiers: The numbers had declined some 20% to an estimated 250 000
children being exploited as soldiers, cooks, spies and for sexual purposes.
Progress had been largely due to the large-scale demobilisation of children in
West Africa, the DRC and Uganda, although he continued to see active
recruitment in many countries.
* He remained very concerned about the conditions of children held with the
Lord's Resistance Army. The situation in Sri Lanka was also particularly
disturbing.
* The conflict in the Middle East has become so deeply entrenched that it had
created one of the world's most serious protection crises. The Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that there were at
least 1,2 million refugees from Iraq living in neighbouring countries, with
unconfirmed figures indicating that 40 000 to 60 000 people a month were
crossing into Syria seeking refuge. The worst aspects of the protection crisis
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were reflected in the deaths of more than
110 children under the age of 17 this year, more than twice the number in
2005.
* More than 400 000 Somalis lived in deplorable conditions after being
displaced multiple times, owing to years of drought and now massive flooding.
The rising tension between the Islamic Courts and neighbouring forces might
lead to even more catastrophic conflict. He was concerned that the UN policy of
non-engagement with the Islamic Courts would "bind the hands and feet" of the
UN humanitarian agencies.
* Darfur: The number of displaced had doubled, and an unprecedented two thirds
of the population were now in need of emergency assistance. Better ways must be
found, not only of addressing the resource constraints facing regional
peacekeepers, but also engaging more systematically and over the longer terms,
to develop the capacity within the African Union to better meet the protection
needs of civilian populations.
* He said his final concern was to ensure that sufficient guidance and support
was provided to peacekeeping operations. It was important to expand the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations' notions of the protection role that
peacekeeping operations could play, not only through the provision of physical
protection, but through supporting civil order and the restoration of judicial
systems and strengthening the rule of law.
Questions and answers
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, regarding Ivory Coast, the Minister of
Defence had said that President Gbagbo had done all that was required of him.
Is that still the position of the South African government?
Answer: I have indicated in all my briefings that on all issues where the
Mediation intervened based on the Pretoria Agreement and other overtures made
to the Facilitator by the opposition parties, President Gbagbo had carried out
all requests by the Facilitator.
The only one outstanding issue was the fasttracking of the national
identification and registration process. And as the President wrote to all
stakeholders, President Gbagbo had undertaken to fasttrack this. So it is our
view that any objective analysis will show that as far as the Facilitation was
concerned, he had carried out everything that was requested by the Facilitation
team. That does not mean that there are no other problems.
Question: Deputy Minister, most of the South African troops deployed as part
of AMIS and a large part of our police services are deployed in El Fasher. They
are also under a mandate which limits the use of force even when they are
attacked. How will they protect themselves should they be attacked?
Answer: This is one of the questions with which we are faced - how to give
them a stronger mandate? Clearly the situation in Darfur is of such a nature
that if we do not give AMIS forces a sufficiently strong mandate to act to
protect themselves and civilians, then their hands will be tied. One of the
issues we will discuss is now that we are moving towards an extension of their
term of force, how will we strengthen their mandate? They presently have a
Chapter 6 mandate?
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, regarding Darfur, the UN recommendations
have been endorsed by the AU. How will you encourage President Bashir, who has
repeatedly said he will never, accept UN forces?
Answer: Firstly let me say, that at the Abuja Summit, Heads of State of the
Peace and Security Council, representatives of the Arab League and UN and
President Bashir were present. Decisions taken now must be decisions that must
be accepted by all parties. We believe that issues around the nature of the
hybrid force, the command and control of the forces and indeed the size of the
forces are now matters that have been dealt with. It should not be possible to
speedily ensure that this new AMIS can come into effect.
Our concern is that with each day that passes, the situation is becoming
increasingly difficult and volatile. The AMIS in its present form, without the
necessary UN support logistically, financially, technically will be in a
difficult position to maintain peace and security. This is now spilling over
into Chad and the Central African Republic.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, what is Minister Lekota's mission in the
Central African Republic?
Answer: Minister Lekota is there to assess - as you know there are lots of
reports regarding coups and destabilisation. Minister Lekota must assess the
conditions on the ground and make the necessary recommendations that we must
assess bilaterally and within the framework of the African Union Peace and
Security Council.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, who will the President meet of the
Democratic leadership?
Answer: We would hope that if the time allows he will see the Black
Congressional Congress, the Speaker of the House, the leader of the Democratic
Party of the Senate. We hope these meetings will take place.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, regarding the hybrid force, the Former
Secretary-General Salim said we should investigate using the AMIS as a vehicle
through which to channel all other efforts. Why is this not possible?
Answer: Firstly, this is a Security Council issue. Secondly, the AU does not
have the necessary resources. It is only if this is a UN mission that you can
get the necessary resources to help AMIS carry out its tasks. The hybrid force
is a compromise. The Sudanese government has made it clear that they will not
accept any outside forces so this is a compromise, the forces will be African
and supported by (backstopping) by other forces from the UN - financial,
logistical, etc. This is a compromise since the UN has called for this force to
be blue-hatted which has been consistently rejected by the Sudanese government.
They will only accept an African force supported by the UN. There is no way we
as Africa can sustain our presence in Darfur without UN support.
Enquiries:
Manusha Pillai
Tel: (012) 351 0269
Cell: 082 389 3587
E-mail: pillaim@foreign.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
7 December 2006
