Toast remarks by President Jacob Zuma on the occasion of the Official Visit to South Africa by Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House
Excellency Prime Minister Mark Rutte and your distinguished delegation
Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Senior officials, ambassadors and Business from both countries
Representatives of various sectors
Ladies and gentlemen
I would like to extend once again, a warm welcome to His Excellency Prime Minister Rutte and your delegation.
I thank you for accepting my invitation.
We are truly honoured to host you especially given the history of solidarity between our two countries. The Netherlands was one of the strongest allies of the oppressed people in South Africa during the struggle for liberation.
The Dutch people responded actively and positively to the 1959 call by ANC president Chief Albert Luthuli for an economic boycott against the Apartheid regime.
Chief Luthuli had stated that "Economic boycott is one way in which the world at large can bring home to the South African authorities that they must either mend their ways or suffer from them."
When South Africans protested against unjust pass laws in Sharpeville and were met with merciless gunfire from apartheid police, the incident became a turning point in the manner with which the Netherlands dealt with Apartheid South Africa.
Protests in the Netherlands ensued and the youth in your country engaged in demonstrations immediately after the massacre.
Your country then went on to become one of the strongest centres of the anti-apartheid movement, and many key leaders of the liberation struggle operated from Amsterdam.
Many key conferences and activities linked to economic sanctions, the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa or promoting negotiations and dialogue took place in Amsterdam.
We also recall the warmth with which the people of Amsterdam celebrated Nelson Mandela's release.
Nelson and Winnie Mandela appeared on the balcony of the Amsterdam municipal theatre amid enthusiastic cheers of twenty thousand people gathered to welcome Madiba, on his first visit to the Netherlands after his release from prison.
Last year, the roving Signs of Solidarity exhibition was showcased at various locations in both South Africa and the Netherlands in the course of 2014 as part of South Africa's 20 years of Democracy celebration. It depicted the commitment and role of the Netherlands in the anti-apartheid struggle.
Given this deep history of solidarity in fighting a system that was declared a crime against humanity, we are enjoined to build stronger bilateral relations between our two countries.
Your visit is viewed by ourselves in that light Prime Minister.
Since 1994, South Africa and the Netherlands have forged a solid partnership that transcends many fields including economic, transport and logistics trade, science and technology, agriculture, water and sanitation, education, judicial, multilateral and culture to mention but a few. We discussed these areas earlier today.
You have brought a sizeable business delegation with you to South Africa, and they will be interacting with their South African counterparts. We also welcome the existing Dutch investments in South Africa.
Next year your country will lead the EU. We look forward to working with the Netherlands in that capacity as we enhance South Africa-EU relations.
Your Excellency,
Earlier we discussed the horrific terror attacks in Paris. Another senseless attack occurred in Beirut in Lebanon while Ankara in Turkey has also been hit by terror attacks. Countries in the Middle East and in our continent for example Nigeria and Kenya have experienced the callous attacks as well.
South Africa remains firm in its condemnation of all forms of terrorism and we pledge our support for countering this threat within the framework of the United Nations.
The ongoing attacks make it imperative that global action be taken, to arrest the scourge of terrorism and also especially to deal with the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism.
Our belief is that interference in some countries in the Middle East and North Africa, coupled with the use of military force to solve problems continues to cause instability and endless conflict.
We know as well that Europe is facing difficulties through the increasing numbers of refugees, many of whom are fleeing conflicts. It is important not to conflate the migration and terrorism issues and not to label all refugees as terrorists.
It is a difficult period for Europe and also the Middle East and parts of Africa. It is also difficult period for the world at large because peace is indivisible.
Africa has its own challenges of pockets of conflict and we are seeking home grown solutions, while also seeking support from development partners abroad.
The African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) and the multinational African Standby Force successfully held its first joint exercise in South Africa in October 2015. The force has been established by the African Union to intervene when conflicts arise.
Your Excellency,
We are truly pleased to host you in this country.
We are happy that agreements have been signed today proving further mechanisms to structure our cooperation.
We are pleased that our ministers responsible for foreign affairs will sign the agreement establishing a Joint Commission at The Hague on Thursday, which will help to coordinate and guide the broad and substantive scope of our relationship.
This visit will certainly take the relations between the two countries and peoples to a higher level.
Ladies and gentlemen,
May you please rise and join me in a toast to stronger and deeper friendship and cooperation between South Africa and the Kingdom of the Netherlands!
Cheers!
I thank you.
