South African History Online

Speech During Visit To The Finnish Parliament

Helsinki, 15 March 1999

Madam Speaker
Honourable Members of Parliament
Thank you for your kind
words of welcome

When I visited Finland seven years ago, as a representative of the majority
of South Africans still denied their freedom, our transition was at a critical
stage. But we did not allow ourselves to be deflected from a negotiated path to
democracy. The support of Finland's government and people, which had sustained
us in our struggle, also helped us through that transition, as it has
strengthened us in the reconstruction and development of our country.

Today, with pride, I bring you greetings from South Africa's first
democratically elected Parliament, and from our Speaker, Dr Frene Ginwala. We
are grateful, Madame Speaker, to your joint efforts with her to promote
cooperation between our Parliaments, both in general and to enhance the role of
women in Parliament and in other spheres of decision-making.

As we prepare to consolidate our democracy in our second elections, we admire
the peaceful manner in which the Finns, as true veterans of democratic rule, are
waging their election battles in preparation for next Sunday's national
election.

But we also know that this tolerance is combined with a passionate commitment
to universal human rights and the courage to fight for the rights of others even
at your own expense, as you did in support of the world-wide campaign to isolate
apartheid.

Now, we are busy turning the bonds forged into struggle into a partnership
for peace and prosperity. Although our economic ties have grown so rapidly since
we gained our freedom, the potential to expand these links for mutual benefit is
enormous.

Co-operation between Finland and South Africa in all spheres has a solid
foundation in our shared respect for equality, democracy and human rights. That
affinity transcends the vast distance between our countries, as we reach out to
one another across continents.

President Ahtisaari's contribution to African, and especially Southern
African, affairs has earned him to respect of the entire continent. South
Africans will never forget that it was he who led the initiative to cancel the
arrears of South Africa's United Nations fees arising from the apartheid period.

Many Finns have taken the plight of less advantaged South Africans to their
hearts and spared no effort to promote a multitude of development projects in
our country. We thank them and acknowledged their role in the liberation and
reconstruction of South Africa.

Finland's programme of Development Co-operation during the first years of our
freedom has strengthened the transformation of our society in such key areas as
the reform of our judicial system; bringing clean water to those who were denied
it; and developing community forestry. We look forward to benefiting from your
focus on another of apartheid's legacies, our critical shortage of qualified
teachers.

South Africa faces many challenges, but in a world as interdependent as the
modern world, none of us can focus only on our problems. First and foremost we
are part of the African continent, and Africa's problems are ours.

As members of the Organisation of African Unity and the Southern African
Development Community we are working hard to promote peaceful resolutions of the
conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Angola and
Eritrea/Ethiopia. We are unbending in our conviction that even the most
difficult and deep-seated problems are capable of peaceful resolution.

Finland is justly renowned for her specialised contribution to peacekeeping
all around the world. We are glad that we can tap your expertise, as well as
benefiting from the material support of the Nordic countries, while SADC
establishes a credible peace-keeping capability.

For all these reasons, the prospect of Finland assuming the European Union
Presidency will be widely welcomed, not least by South Africa. We wish you
success.

Madam Speaker, we are grateful to you and your colleagues for sharing your
valuable time with us on the eve of your parliamentary elections.

Our own elections in June will mark the end of my public life. I shall retire
content in the knowledge that our people, with a new generation of leaders, will
have the partnership of countries like Finland as they build on the foundation
for a better life for all which we have laid with your help.

Together we will continue to make a reality of the hopes we have shared
through so many years. I thank you.