SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE EXAMPLE FOR CONTINENT, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL UPON ARRIVING IN CAPE TOWN
Press Release
SG/SM/6182
SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE EXAMPLE FOR CONTINENT, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL UPON ARRIVING IN CAPE TOWN
19970319 Following are the remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, delivered upon arrival in Cape Town, South Africa, on Wednesday, 19 March:I have been looking forward to this trip very much. The United Nations and South Africa have had a lot of history together. I would hope that, as you continue to develop your country and build a multi-racial South Africa, your example will be a good one for other countries around the continent.
Yes, there are difficulties around the continent, but there's also good news. When we look at what happened here in South Africa, when we look at the ways you resolved your problems, it reminds me of the great African capacity for forgiveness, for reconciliation.
Even though we have difficult crises in the Great Lakes region, in eastern Zaire, I hope that the kind of experience, the kind of spirit, that made it possible to bring South Africa to where it is today would also prevail in our discussions with the other governments and the other peoples of the continent, as we move ahead to discuss their crises.
Africa cannot develop economically and socially unless we can resolve some of these political conflicts. We cannot even pretend that "my country is OK; we are safe; we are stable". Because for those outside, when you mention Africa, they consider it as a concern to all of us.
From here, I go to Angola, where I hope we will be able to encourage the protagonists to put their differences behind them and follow the example of South Africa. If we can resolve the conflict in Angola, for the first time in many years the entire southern African region will be conflict-free. We can all imagine the great economic potential of the region. This region can put together a tourist package which no other part of the world can match.
You can then go on to joint projects and focus on economic and social development of the people. I applaud what has happened here. I applaud President Mandela, and the effort South Africa has made in helping me and other governments resolve some of the African crises.
I look forward to my stay here. Thank you very much.
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