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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

South Africa 'Beacon of Hope' says Commonwealth Secretary-General

17 July 1995

Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku today hailed South Africa as a "beacon of hope" in a world witnessing a "chilling resurgence of tensions and conflicts fuelled by ethnic intolerance."

Speaking at the opening in Pretoria of the International Roundtable on Democratic Constitutional Development, Chief Anyaoku said that since last year's elections "the people of this nation have shown that what matters most to South Africans is South Africa."

"No country in the world has had quite your history of institutionalised ethnic and racial division," the Commonwealth Secretary-General noted.  "Equally, no country in recent history has shown South Africa's determination to rise above its past and to take on the challenge, in the words of President Nelson Mandela, of striving to 'make the world safe for diversity.'"

Among the objectives of the Roundtable, which is taking place from 17 to 21 July, is to gather information on democratic constitutional development in countries around the world which may be of relevance to South Africa's constitution-making process.

In his opening remarks, Chief Anyaoku noted that as South Africans draw closer to the deadline for completion of the final constitution, "the debates will inevitably narrow down to the most vexing issues."  South Africans "may find it beneficial to draw from time to time on the knowledge and hindsight of other countries now at its disposal," he noted.

The Secretary-General, who will be meeting with President Nelson Mandela, and a number of government ministers during his three-day visit, said the Commonwealth stood ready to render every practicable support to South Africans.

Seventeen senior constitutional experts, from nine Commonwealth countries, are participating in the Roundtable, which is hosted by the Ministry of Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development.  There are some 120 South African participants, including many associated with the Constitutional Assembly.

 

95/29     17 July 1995

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