Prospects for non-racial democracy 'encouraging' despite difficulties.

PositionSouth Africa - United Nations developments

Despite continuing difficulties, the prospects for the establishment of a non-racial democracy in South Africa were "most encouraging", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said on 16 June.

In a statement read on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs James O. C. Jonah at a meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid, he pointed out that a provisional agreement had been reached on a date - 27 April 1994 - for the first nonracial multiparty elections. A multiracial transitional executive council was expected to be put in place within weeks. He urged all parties to facilitate the long-awaited establishment of a broad-based government in South Africa.

The Committee meeting was held to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Struggling People of South Africa.

The Secretary-General stressed that the immediate task of ending the widespread violence and disorder required a strong determination by all parties to work for peace.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali cited the Organization's extensive involvement in South Africa, including the deployment of the UN Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA). Those measures had had a salutary effect on the political situation in the country and had helped to promote and advance the peace process.

Security Council President Juan Antonio Yanez-Barnuevo of Spain said the negative impact of increasing violence on the negotiation process underscored the need to intensify that process.

Special Committee Chairman Ibrahim A. Gambari of Nigeria said the Committee supported political negotiations as the only peaceful means of reaching a settlement acceptable to the majority of citizens, while also safeguarding the rights of minority groups.

|Tragic assassination'

The assassination on 10 April in Johannesburg of Chris Hani, a National Executive Committee member of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) and Secretary-General of the South African Communist Party, underscored the urgent need to end violence in the country and to push ahead with negotiations for a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa, the Security Council said on 12 April. On behalf of members, Council President Jamsheed K. A. Marker of...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT