South African History Online

Stockholm, 13 March 1990

It is a matter of the greatest joy to me that I have, at last, arrived in
Sweden. It will come as no surprise to you that for me, this is the first time
ever that I have occasion to utter even one word in any parliament anywhere.

This is therefore an historic day for us. It foretells of the moment when
black men and women will sit side by side with white men and women in a South
African parliament, together adopting laws as equals and as elected
representatives of all the people of our country.

But it is also a joyful day which shall remain in our memories for as long as
we live. It is joyful because we know that here we are among steadfast friends
who have stood with us in the common struggle, for decades.

We know that as elected representatives, all of you, regardless of the
parties to which you belong, represent the common anti-apartheid and democratic
positions of the overwhelming majority of the Swedish people.

These national Swedish sentiments have led to the very happy situation in
which, between us, we have established a system of relations from people to
people. This is a relationship that transcends the important structured official
relations which define our extensive system of cooperation. It provides the
warmth of human friendship among people that cements these official ties.

We have a vision of South Africa as a united. democratic. non-sexist and
non-racial country. We see ourselves as not aligned to any military blocs . At
the same time . we shall be firmly aligned with regard to the fundamental and
universal issues of human rights for all people, the right and possibility of
every individual to full and unfettered development, the right of every country
to determine its future, protection of the environment and peace in a world that
should be free of regional conflicts and the threat of a nuclear war.

We believe that the people of this country share this glorious vision as
well. It is this which has nullified the great distances that separate our
respective countries and peoples, with the one in northern Europe and the other
in southern Africa. We have become political neighbours who willingly share
whatever little bread and salt we may have. The strength this gives us is
impossible to measure.

It is between us common cause that we have not yet ended the apartheid crime
against humanity. Consequently, the conditions do not yet exist for our people
to transform their country into a non-racial democracy. We, together, have
therefore some important tasks to accomplish.

We have to continue the struggle to liberate ourselves. This we are doing and
shall pursue, without regard to the cost to ourselves as individuals. We must,
through struggle, end the system of apartheid as soon as possible. It remains
our wish that we could, without delay, produce a just solution arrived at
through a negotiated political settlement.

Whether this happens and how soon, will depend on what the Pretoria regime
does. As yet, it has not even completed the process of creating a climate
conducive to negotiations. As you know, we shall be meeting President F.W. de
Klerk and his colleagues to address this issue, as soon as the necessary
arrangements have been completed. We are convinced that the Harare and United
Nations Declarations on South Africa provide the basis for the speedy
liquidation of the apartheid system.

We need your continued support in the struggle to abolish the system of white
minority domination and exploitation which has brought such untold misery to
both our own people and those of southern Africa as a whole. We would like to
take this opportunity to salute this outstanding democratic institution, the
Swedish Parliament, which has stood in the front ranks of the international
forces that have fought against the apartheid system.

From here has issued legislation which has made an important contribution to
the process of securing the international isolation of apartheid South Africa
For many years you have approved budgets which have enabled this country to
extend invaluable humanitarian assistance to the ANC, the Democratic Movement
and the suffering people of our country. From here you have provided moral and
political leadership which has inspired many others throughout the world and
sustained us in those dark days in prison when it was impossible even to guess
when the terrible night of racial tyranny would give way to a new dawn.

We thank you for all this with all our hearts and without reservation. But
the fact of the apartheid system requires that we ask you to persist in the path
on which you have embarked. To help us end apartheid, you must continue to
provide moral and political leadership. It is precisely your unwavering
commitment to these positions that guarantees a speedy end to the apartheid
system.

The road we still have to traverse will not be long. It may not be smooth and
easy. But clearly the racist tyranny is on its way out. While South Africa has
elected its last racial parliament and its last apartheid president our deepest
desire is that we walk the last mile together. And having done that, we shall,
as one, look at the new vistas that will open up and see how we should exploit
our established friendship to extend and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation
between our peoples.

New challenges are upon all people throughout the world. Old problems demand
urgent solutions. New problems have to be addressed without delay. The times
demand greater and not less cooperation among the nations to find solutions to
issues that might be national in their specific expression but universal in
their essence. It should surely be possible that we who have joined hands to
bring to a close the old detestable world of white racial oppression, should
combine to contribute whatever little we can to answer those challenges.

In a week's time, Namibia will become an independent State. We are greatly
moved by the fact of the enormous contribution you made to the achievement of
this victory, among other things, through your support for SWAPO. We look
forward to meeting in Windhoek, if not all, at least some of you.

This is a victory that is close to our hearts. We rejoice in the joy of the
Namibian people. We have to contribute to the fullness of this historic success
by making certain we end apartheid in our own country, create the conditions for
peace to rule supreme throughout our region and enable the peoples of southern
Africa as a whole to rebuild their countries when that day comes. It will be
with special warmth that the millions of our people will receive the Swedish
participants at our victory celebrations. We thank you and thank the millions
you represent for making it possible for us to say unashamedly that we have a
true friend whose name is SWEDEN.