SECRETARY-GENERAL BEGINS NINE-DAY AFRICAN TOUR

Press Release
SG/T/2090

SECRETARY-GENERAL BEGINS NINE-DAY AFRICAN TOUR

JOHANNESBURG, 21 March -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan flew to Cape Town on Tuesday, 18 March, to begin his nine-day trip to South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Togo.

On Wednesday, he and Mrs. Annan were met at the airport by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Aziz Pahad. Also present on his arrival were senior officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as well as the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Operational Activities, David Whaley, Director of United Nations Information Centre Yobert Shamapande, and other heads of United Nations offices in South Africa.

On Thursday, 20 March, the Secretary-General held a round of meetings and talks with high ranking officials of the South African Government. He had an audience with President Nelson Mandela, during which they exchanged views on a wide range of issues relating to Africa and other areas including the continuing conflicts in Angola, Sudan, Western Sahara and Zaire.

The Secretary-General further met with the Speaker of the National Assembly Frene Ginwala, who presented him with a lime rock from Robben Island, formerly an island fortress off the coast of Cape Town used to incarcerate opponents of apartheid. Mr. Annan also had discussions with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and some of the Commissioners. They reviewed the work of the Commission, which through its Human Rights, Reparation and Amnesty Committees is an instrument to establish the truth and redress past injustices of the apartheid system.

Following his discussions with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Secretary-General met with Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, who had just returned from Nairobi, Kenya, for the talks on the Great Lakes crisis.

Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General addressed a news conference at the Parliament buildings, at which he, once again, reviewed a wide range of peace and security situations from the conflicts in Angola, Sudan, Western Sahara and Zaire to matters of the United Nations reforms, as well as questions about South Africa's support in that regard.

- 2 - Press Release SG/T/2090 21 March 1997

The Secretary-General today concluded his official visit to South Africa. Before departing from Cape Town he paid a visit to Robben Island for a guided tour of the facility and some of the notorious prison cells in which the opponents of apartheid were held. His visit was particularly symbolic and significant on the occasion of Human Rights Day for South Africa, which commemorates the Sharpeville massacre of more than three decades ago.

Upon his arrival in Johannesburg, the Secretary-General had a discussion with the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Nzo, who briefed him on developments in the Great Lakes region and other areas. While in Pretoria, he held meetings with the United Nations country staff at the common premises provided by the South African Government to house the United Nations system.

Mr. Annan concluded the visit with a major address to the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg on the subject of "South Africa and the United Nations". Speaking on the occasion of Human Rights Day and also Constitution Week for South Africa, he recalled the significant role played by the United Nations in the elimination of apartheid and bringing about a multiracial and democratic South Africa.

Tomorrow morning, 22 March, Mr. and Mrs. Annan will depart from Johannesburg for Windhoek, Namibia where the Secretary-General will hold talks with President Sam Nujoma. From there he will travel to Angola and then on to Lomé, Togo to attend the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Summit Conference.

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