IN the editorial “Paradox of Lekota & Zaire” (November 8 to 14), you inter alia commented that our government had “failed to send the president, his deputy, or even the foreign minister” to the recent summit convened by President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya in Nairobi. You went on to state that instead, the government dispatched a special envoy to act as an observer at the meeting.
I would like to point out that the summit in question was a regional one, limited to heads of state of the Central and East African region. As such, South Africa was not invited to attend the summit. In these circumstances, there was thus no question of our president, deputy president or the minister attending the meeting. In sending our special representative for Burundi, Ambassador Nhlapo, as an observer to the event, we were nonetheless demonstrating our serious concern at recent developments in the Great Lakes region, as well as our commitment to playing an active role in restoring peace and stability to the region.
Your reference to our alleged message to the summit, namely that South Africa “will agree to anything they decide”, also deserves comment. It is an established practice on our continent that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and its member states be guided on regional issues by the views of the countries in the particular region, where appropriate. An example here was the establishment of a West African peacekeeping force in Liberia, known as Ecomog, by countries in that region, which was supported by the OAU. Our president’s comments on the Nairobi summit were made in this context and should not in any way be regarded as “an abrogation of responsibility in the field of foreign affairs”, as claimed in your editorial.
Contrary to the thrust of your opinion, the president and government of South Africa are playing a pivotal role in the creation of a multi-national force in the Great Lakes region. Every effort is being made to ensure that this force will carry out the mandates given by the United Nations Security Council and the OAU’s Central Organ for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution to establish safe corridors and temporary sanctuaries in eastern Zaire and to ensure an effective African contribution to such a force.
In the light of the above, therefore, I hope that you will give due recognition to our efforts aimed at finding durable and lasting solutions to the unfolding human tragedy in the Great Lakes region. – LH Evans, director general, Department of Foreign Affairs