Congratulations! Mr Reggie Khumala, PAC Representative at the UN shakes hands with SA Ambassador Jim Steward. On the right is Kingsley Makhubeia, Deputy Permanent Representative of the ANC at the UN.
|
Allen
Shardelow, New York
Meintjeskop Courier, Volume EE,
1994
Recent events at the United Nations have
indeed been historic from South Africa's perspective. The old "apartheid" South African
flag was lowered for the last time at the United Nations on Tuesday. 26 April
1994. On Wednesday, 27 April 1994, the new flag was raised in the presence of South
Africa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jim Steward, Mr Reggie Khumalo (PAC Chief Representative to the UN), and Mr
Kingsley Makhubela (ANC Deputy Chief Representative to the UN).
The event was
marked by much brotherly hugging and back-slapping. Those colleagues who have served at the UN
in the past, and certainly those currently stationed in New York, must surely
have wondered at how the UN environment had changed. Erstwhile enemies were now
standing arm in arm witnessing the birth of the new South Africa on the very
ground of the Organisation that had once declared "Apartheid a crime
against humanity".
Their task completed, the lights are out
and the shutters drawn at the ANC and PAC Observer Missions to the United
Nations. The former Chief Representative of the ANC to the UN, Mr Tebogo
Mafole, returned to his former stamping grounds on 25 and 26 May 1994, as part
of Deputy President Mbeki's delegation to attend the Security Council meeting ,which lifted the mandatory arms embargo against South Africa.
At that meeting,
the delegation sitting behind South Africa's name-plate in the Security Council
comprised Deputy-President Mbeki, Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, the
Director-General Mr LH Evans, Mr T Mafole and Ambassador Jim Steward.
.
The final step in our reintegration into
the UN took place on 23 June 1994 when South Africa's delegation to the United
Nations, led by Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo, took South Africa's seat in the
General Assembly to warm applause from the delegates of 184 nations. Mr Mafole
was again present. He just cannot seem to stay away.
The task ahead for the Permanent Mission at
the UN is an enormous one. We have taken our place in the various regional
groups (NAM. Africa Group and the Group of 77), and now have to ensure that our
views on a plethora of international issues are heard.
Everybody at the United Nations is an
observer. Image and association are all important. News of who was seen in whose
company is furtively exchanged in the corridors while the subject of their conversation
is speculated on. South Africa's diplomats will not escape this scrutiny. Much
will no doubt be said and speculated on as we go about our task of being an
African country while attempting to maintain our bridge to the Western World.
Interesting and challenging times certainly
lie in ambush.
With greetings from a hot and humid New
York.
No comments:
Post a Comment