Vol. 424 No. 9
12 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has lodged a protest with the South African authorities regarding the recent massacres at Bisho in the Ciskei; his views on the continuing violence in South Africa and the urgent need for progress towards democratic structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
43 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions taken by the Irish Government and our EC partners to convey our outrage at the massacre at Bisho in Ciskei, South Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 12 and 43 together.
The Government have followed with great concern the growing violence in South Africa. Following the killings in Bisho in early September I expressed the Government's revulsion at the loss of life and the numbers injured, and I condemned those responsible. At the same time I called on the South Africa Government to exercise full control over the security forces. The Foreign Ministers of the European Community also condemned the killings.
The Government have regularly conveyed to the South African authorities our views on apartheid, our belief in peaceful negotiations as the path to a new South Africa and the need for all parties in South Africa to address seriously the problems of political violence. The Bisho killings were an example, unfortunately not unique, of the violence which is part of the legacy of apartheid. As the Deputy will be aware, Justice Goldstone, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into Public Violence and Intimidation, has reported that several parties were to blame for the deaths at Bisho.
Ireland, has joined with our partners in the Community, in offering to help the South Africans address the continuing problem of political violence. The Community and its member states have sent a number of observers to South Africa, to work in co-ordination with the UN observer force established under Security Council Resolution 772. These observers, two of whom are Irish, are working with the structures set up under the National Peace Accord, signed on 14 September 1991 by the South African Government, the ANC and Inkatha, as well as other political parties and movements.
I hope to visit South Africa in the near future. In my meetings with the South African Government, the ANC and other parties and movements, I will urge a return to the path of peaceful negotiations which, I believe, is the only way to a united, democratic and non-racial South Africa.
Has the Minister raised with the South African authorities the allegation that the troops of the South African police collaborated with the Ciskei troops in facilitating the massacre and, if so, what was the response he got from the authorities in relation to that? Has the Minister pressed with the South African authorities the urgent need to have a non-racial interim Government established before the end of this year as a genuine means of having peace restored or of having a peaceful path to a solution? Has the Minister indicated to the South African Government that until such time as that is done, we will insist that existing remaining sanctions will remain in place?
I have not brought any of those matters to the attention of the South African Government, but if I get the opportunity of going to South Africa in the near future I will bring those matters to their attention. The Deputy's allegation in relation to troops is a very serious allegation. I do not have any information in that regard. It is something I would have to investigate thoroughly before I could make any definitive response to it. Taking into account that either myself or somebody else may be going to South Africa in the near future, it would not be appropriate to comment in relation to a non-racial interim Government. Quite frankly, I do not think there is time to have a non-racial interim Government between now and the end of the year.
I have no reason to doubt the integrity of the views which the Minister will pursue in South Africa but I put it to him that either he or his successor would be ill advised to visit South Africa before reforms of the security forces have taken place, or at least before talks in relation to reform of the security forces have been advanced, and that the likelihood is that a visit of a Foreign Minister of a member state of the European Community would be abused rather than it being helpful to the resolution of the crisis in South Africa at this time?
I do not have information on file, but if my memory serves me the Troika have been into South Africa in the recent past.
Yes.
While I would not necessarily be guided in my response by that visit, I will base it on my own judgment, which is, with the greatest respect to Deputy Higgins, that I should go to South Africa in the near future. There are many issues to be addressed, issues which have been referred to by the Deputies. In those circumstances the way to deal with them is face to face rather than by long distance diplomacy.
Does the Minister share my concern and the concern of many that it is important that neither Ireland nor any other EC country would prematurely give a total stamp of approval to the South African Government before real progress has been made towards non-racial Government? For that reason will the Minister confirm and perhaps clarify for the House if a member of his staff recently visited South Africa with a view to opening an Irish Embassy there?
The Deputy is right in that a member of the staff visited South Africa in anticipation of my visit. In relation to the opening of an embassy, that is a decision that would have to be made arising from a first time visit by a Minister, based on advice given.
The Minister is confirming that no decision has been made on opening an embassy?
Yes, no decision has been made.
I was seeking to establish that an embassy, which has significance in that it gives recognition to the existing regime, will not be established in South Africa under the existing regime without a transitional Government having been put in place and without a number of the issues on the talks having reached the point of resolution between the parties.
I am not far from what the Deputy's requests. I will respond positively to what the Deputy has suggested but I would not like to make a binding commitment for myself or my successor in relation to a proposed visit to South Africa.
