South African History Online

Toast at a Banquet in Russia

Russia 29 April 1999

Mr President;
Your excellencies;
Ladies and gentlemen;

Thank you, Mr President, for your kind and gracious words. Our warm welcome
in Russia has been all that we expected of a country that has a very special
place in the hearts of South Africa.

Our plans to make this visit earlier this year were frustrated by the rigours
of your winter, of which we on the Southern tip of Africa have little
understanding. Though we have braved many dangers, we dared not face the cold to
which you are accustomed.

And so we have come to your beautiful country during your gentle spring
weather, and in the last autumn days of South Africa's first democratic
government and my own public life.

This brings a special opportunity to pay homage to a people and a country who
were in the vanguard of that great legion of humanity who shared our struggle
against apartheid and therefore also our victory.

It was from here that many of our most valiant fighters drew inspiration and
the hope of a more humane future.

It was here that our leader, the late President Oliver Tambo, sought
assistance and found it without conditions, at a time when it was neither
fashionable to provide it nor dictated by any narrow interest.

In a time of need Russia became a home away from home for many of us.
Hundreds of young South Africans found here the education they were denied in
their own homeland. Many of our cadres found the military training that turned
them into skilled combatants for freedom and justice.

This was the solidarity of true internationalism, transcending a vast
geographical distance as well as the cultural and social differences between out
peoples.

The Russian people made a special contribution to the elimination of racial
tyranny in South Africa and the establishment of democracy. For helping to
liberate all the people of South Africa from an inhuman system, we say from the
bottom of our heart: "Spasiba bolshoi!"

But we also know that the best way of honouring that selfless support is to
use our freedom to build a society that is true to the ideals for which we
fought together.

As your spring brings growth and sunshine, so democracy has brought us the
possibility of addressing our people basic needs. It has allowed us to take our
place in the international community of free nations, to build relations of
mutual benefit and work with our friends for a better world.

Though we still have far to go, we are working hard to ensure that all our
people have access to the most basic amenities of modern life, without which
their freedom and their hard-won rights would remain empty shells. We are
entrenching democracy, and securing the peace for which our country yearned for
generations.

All this is only possible, and only sustainable, in active partnership with
our neighbours in Southern Africa; with the countries of our continent; and with
our friends across the world.

This first Sate Visit to Russia by the President of a democratic South Africa
is therefore also part of the reconstruction and development of our country.

The agreements we signed today express our shared determination to lose no
more time in establishing the framework for relations that will bring
substantial benefit to our peoples. Our joint focus on science and technology;
on mineral resources; and on the expansion of trade and investment reflect the
strategic focus of our intent to turn the bonds of solidarity into a long-term
productive partnership for prosperity and peace. That is why we have with us
such a powerful delegation, drawn from government, the scientific community and
leaders of business.

The exchange of views which this visit allows, between ourselves, Mr
President, and with officials of your government and members of the Federation
Council, will also promote common approaches to the critical questions facing
humanity, as we enter the new millennium in search of equity, development, peace
and security.

The achievements of this visit have been made possible not only by the
historic bonds of friendship. They required also patient and thorough work by
officials of our two governments. I particular the successful visit of Deputy
President Thabo Mbeki to the Russian Federation has given the process powerful
impetus.

This gives us great confidence that the relationship between our countries
will continue to grow far into the future.

It moves me M President, to offer a toast to you, and to the people of
Russia; and to the flourishing of friendship between our countries.