South Africa an inspiration for NI - Mbeki
Unionists are fearful of change in Northern Ireland in much the same way as white South Africans were concerned about their future following the fall of apartheid, the country’s President, Thabo Mbeki, said today.
After a meeting with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in Pretoria, the African National Congress leader said while great strides had been made recently in the Irish peace process, South Africa could serve as an inspiration for how the transition to a peaceful future could be achieved.
And he paid tribute to the IRA for decommissioning its weapons.
“If we move the process forward in Northern Ireland, we will find the future is much, much better for everyone,” Mr Mbeki said.
The ANC leader, who succeeded Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s second black president after apartheid ended in 1994, said like whites in his country, unionists in Northern Ireland feared what they might lose.
He said: “In our experience in this country the white minority was also afraid (before 1994).”
Eleven years later, the South African President said, the white minority’s fears were never realised and they were happier and freer.
Some people were even richer than before.
“The tension remains among various parties (in Northern Ireland) but in our experience this can and must be eased,” he said.
Mr Mbeki also praised the completion by the IRA three weeks ago of disarmament.
He said: “The decommissioning of weapons has made a strategic contribution in terms of the constitution of the government and legislature.
“It is our hope that this historic step taken by the IRA is a strategic contribution to opening the way to the re-establishment of the government.”
At a joint press conference in Union Buildings in Pretoria, Mr Adams said people back home in Northern Ireland wanted the same rights and entitlements as were achieved in South Africa.
“People ask what we want,” the West Belfast MP said.
“We want what you have. We want freedom, and a rights-based society on our small island so that people can live together in peace.”
Mr Adams is on a four-day visit to South Africa and has also pencilled in talks with South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said a focus of their discussions would be the sharing of experiences in South Africa and Northern Ireland on disarmament and the lessons for other peace processes in Africa.
The Sinn Féin leader is also due to meet South Africa’s Minister of Intelligence, Ronnie Kasrils.
Mr Adams will lay a wreath at Freedom Park in the township of Soweto in Johannesburg.
He will also address the South African Institute of International Affairs before leaving on Friday.
