South African History Online

Address to the National Assembly of the Republic of Hungary

Budapest, 3 May 1999

Mr Speaker;
Honourable Members of the Hungarian national Assembly.

It is indeed a very great honour to stand before the elected representatives
of the Hungarian people.

I am humbled by the fact that you have made this possible by exempting me
from the provisions of a law that would prohibit me from addressing this
hallowed institution of your democracy.

However, i cannot avoid pointing out that had you waited the few weeks until
I am no longer President of South Africa you need not have set this dangerous
precedent! You would then also have come to the assistance of an unemployed old
man by giving him a small job!

But then I do know that your invitation is not to me personally but to the
elected President of a people who achieved liberation with your help.

In our time of need we were inspired by the international community's
insistence that our aspirations were the ideals of all humanity.

It is a matter of great pride that the international community has in turn
itself drawn renewed hope for a better world from the way South Africans have
joined hands across the divisions of centuries to work together for a society
that is true to the ideals in whose you supported us.

We are resolved to do all we can to work with our friends throughout the
world for those principles which we share and from which we have benefited.

Mr Speaker;

South Africans only a few days ago, on our national Freedom Day, celebrated
the fifth anniversary of the day on which our people set our nation on the
course of democracy. Though the majority of South Africans were denied the
training and preparation to govern a complex modern society, remarkable progress
has been made. Despite weaknesses that we acknowledge and problems which we
share with mush of the world, like crime, corruption, unemployment and AIDS, the
hopes you shared with us are becoming reality.

Oppressive and discriminatory laws have been swept away. Literally millions
of our people, especially the poorest of the poor, have felt the impact of
government programmes to deliver basic services like clean water, decent housing
and health-care, electricity and telephones.

What has made these changes possible is the unity of our people and the peace
which our nation enjoys, as well as co-operation with our neighbours in Southern
Africa; the countries of our continent and the whole international community.

Within societies and between nations, the achievement by any of us of our
ideals depends on others achieving those same ideals. Whatever happens in one
sector of society, or one country, has an impact on the others.

The recent period of international financial turmoil has shown how fat the
effects of economic difficulties in one country can spread. Even if the impact
can be mitigated by sound economic fundamentals such as our two economies enjoy,
no economy is immune. And it remains true that the heaviest burden falls upon
the weaker and the poorer nations.

Nor can we insulate ourselves from the effects of violent conflicts. Whether
it be in Africa or Europe, a conflict in one country can easily destabilise a
whole region and threaten peace, stability and prosperity even more widely.

One cannot be in Hungary at this time and not have one's anxiety about
developments in the Balkans made deeper still.

All conflicts reach a point at which neither side is absolutely right or
wrong.

Even from afar, one can only be deeply disturbed by the images we see on
television of innocent victim of ethnic cleansing and the violation of human
rights. One can only be deeply concerned at the use of force without regard for
the authority of the world body responsible for the collective resolution of
conflict.

It is these concerns that have led us to condemn both sides, and to support
all the efforts that are being made to secure a return to negotiation to resolve
the issues relating to Kosovo.

Our own humble experience has shown that even those problems which seem
intractable and rooted in generations of experience can be resolved by talking
and discussion. in particular it is our view that this crisis can only be
resolved if, amongst other things, the Presidents of the United States and the
Russian Federation sit down and talk.

Mr Speaker;

If I raise these issues so far from home, it is because in this
interdependent world in which we live, all of us depend on our sustaining and
strengthening the bodies which we have, as an international community, created
to promote economic equity and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

It is also because our freedom was achieved with the support of those,
including yourselves, who cared even though they were far removed from our
oppression and suffering.

As a result, today Hungary and South Africa can relate to one another as
equal partners, in our different regions, to build economic ties that benefit
both our peoples, and to strengthen one another for success in a competitive
global economy.

We are able to learn from one anther's experience in securing the democratic
rights for which we have fought and building national unity.

We can jointly promote educational and conduct research to advance the
frontiers of knowledge that can be used to improve the lives of our people.

We can consult and co-operate with one another to try to halt the
proliferation of weapons, so that all people everywhere may live in peace and
with security.

In short, as South Africa prepares to continue with a new generation of
leaders along the path you helped us open, our two countries are building a
solid relationship.

May it serve our peoples and contribute to a better world, far into the
future.

I thank you for your attention.