The Government fully support the principles contained in the International Appeal for International Supervision, Monitoring and Verification to ensure Free and Fair Elections in South Africa, which was launched on Sharpeville Day (21 March) by the Liaison Group of National Anti-Apartheid Movements in the countries of the European Community. Free and fair elections must take place and be verified to have taken place for the new united, non-racial and democratic South Africa to become a reality.
The European Community and its member states are currently examining ways in which assistance can be provided to ensure that the elections, which should take place in the first half of 1994, are free and fair. We share the concern that some groups and movements may attempt to disrupt the democratic process and we endorse the calls for United Nations monitoring and verification of the election process from the registration of voters to the declaration of the election results.
As I said in this House on 23 March, 1993, it is my intention that Ireland should play its own part in assisting South Africa in the transition to democracy. Already by our support for, and participation in, the EC Observer Mission to South Africa we are giving effect in a practical way to our commitment to assist in the peaceful transition from apatheid to a democratic and non-racial society. I would envisage that Irish observers will participate in due course in the international monitoring of the election process.
