Written Answers. - Sanctions Against South Africa.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:
40
Prionsias De Rossa
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Dublin Castle on 20 February 1990, regarding Community policy on South African sanctions; if his attention has been drawn to the call made by the senior ANC representative, Walter Sisulu, for an intensification of Irish sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:
47
Mr. Moynihan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if, in the context of the Irish Presidency of the EC, he will bring forward any proposals to express the disapproval of the EC in relation to Britain's unilateral lifting of sanctions against South Africa.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 47 together.
Ministers of the Twelve meeting in the framework of European Political Co-operation in Dublin on 20 February had a very thorough discussion on recent developments in South Africa. There was a general welcome for the measures announced by President de Klerk in his speech to the opening of Parliament on 2 February, which was followed by the release on 11 February of Nelson Mandela.
These measures are considered by the Twelve to be both positive and significant. Taken together, these measures constitute important contributions to the creation of that climate which we and our partners in the Twelve consider essential for the initiation of genuine negotiations with the majority community in South Africa. I would underline that such negotiations in our view must be aimed at the total abolition of apartheid and the establishment in South Africa of a new non-racial and democratic society based on principles of equality and justice for all.
Foreign Ministers were agreed that these recent measures by the South African Government, while welcome, do not yet go far enough. The state of emergency is still in place and a number of political prisoners are still being held. Ministers agreed that there is still a distance to go to achieve our common aim, which is the complete abolition of apartheid.
Against the background of these recent developments, Ministers also discussed the subject of sanctions against South Africa. This discussion clearly showed that there was no consensus among partners to lift the Twelve's restrictive measures at this stage.
The majority of our partners do not share the United Kingdom's view that the measures taken to date by the South African Government warrant a lessening of Twelve pressure on South Africa. The United Kingdom subsequently lifted the ban on new investment unilaterally with effect from 23 February. This decision has been the subject of considerable public debate both at the time and subsequently. I have no doubt that the United Kingdom is fully aware of the views of her partners in the Twelve, including those of this Government. I do not see that further expressions of disapproval would serve any practical purpose.
I am not aware of any call by Mr. Walter Sisulu of the ANC for an intensification of Irish sanctions against South Africa. In the Government's view, the purpose of sanctions against South Africa is not to punish that country but rather to encourage the South African Government to dismantle the apartheid system and to engage in negotiations to this end with the majority community. In view of the steps taken recently by the South African Government to remove some of the obstacles to dialogue, I do not think that an intensification of sanctions against South Africa would be appropriate at present.
