Chairperson, hon Minister Mme Maite Nkoane- Mashabane, hon Deputy Minister Ibrahim Ibrahim, hon Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe, Members of Parliament and guests, I thank you.
Our foreign policy on international relations is guided by the vision of a better life for all the peoples of the world. This requires working for a peaceful and prosperous Africa whilst striving for a better world. This commitment resembles the clarion call, as articulated in the ANC's Freedom Charter, that "There shall be peace and friendship". This vision calls for a better Africa in a better world.
Our theme mirrors the interesting nature of international developments. It refers to "the pillars of the international relations foreign policy of the department" and relates to the strategic policy objectives of the ANC.
The department's budget relates to the underpinnings of this theme. On the whole, the budget is informed by our government's strategic vision for our country, region, continent and the globe at large. We are part of global governance. Having a place among the family of nations is necessary in order to represent our country, region and continent through relevant bodies in the galaxy of nations.
Through global governance we are able to contribute to our socioeconomic stability through multilateral diplomatic engagements on global platforms. In this regard, our country will continue to promote development, security, human rights and compliance with international law. This kind of advocacy cannot take place in a vacuum. It requires active participation in regional, continental and international structures, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.
Part of the reason for the active involvement of our country in global governance is to promote the development objectives of the developing world, including the attainment of an equitable global order through, amongst other things, active participation in the global economic reform process through continued engagement with international and regional economic financial institutions; support for the current developmental momentum within the G20 through active participation in summit processes; the promotion of national and developing countries' positions in the implementation of G20 initiatives, with special emphasis on the African agenda; the playing of a supportive role in the World Trade Organisation and forging partnerships where necessary; and the continuation of active engagement with global governance institutions on political, economic and security matters, including the reform of the multilateral system to be responsive to the developmental needs of developing countries.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the world has become quasi- unipolar, but at a multipolar level the economic crisis has given rise to the emergence of a new economic bloc. For example, there is the China, Brazil, India and Japan bloc, and there is the Europe and other economic blocs which seem to be challenging US dominance. Its features tend to be evident in geopolitical blocs amongst developed and developing countries.
South Africa is part of the world economy. In the state of the nation address this year President Jacob Zuma stated that government "will intensify efforts to promote the interests of South Africa globally". It will support efforts to speed up the political and economic integration of the Southern African Development Community, SADC.
The President's emphasis demonstrates commitment to the Freedom Charter, namely that "There shall be peace and friendship". This document contends that economic and political co-operation with other countries will bring about a better life for all, peace, and a better Africa and world.
Through participation in multilateral forums our country will strive to ensure, as far as possible, that the resolution of international conflicts is always peaceful and in line with the UN charter and that the principles of international law are always adhered to. Our country's international relations policy, as per the theme, recognises that in order to achieve a better life for all, development and security are better addressed through adequate attention to all global threats facing humanity.
It is here that the organs and principal bodies of the United Nations system are of major importance for the maintenance of global peace and stability. The ANC government should work towards effective global governance through the African Union, the United Nations and other such bodies.
The 52nd national conference of the ANC characterised the current global situation as "a situation in which an exploitative socioeconomic system rules the world", and that the danger should not be underestimated of widening wars of conquest and other more sophisticated means of subversion in search of resources, markets and geopolitical advantage. The current international political conjuncture is witnessing a new form of imperialism and neocolonialism emerging in the disguised form of using different struggles and tactics.
In this regard, the ANC needs to strengthen its relationship with the progressive forces of the left. It should forge common programmes through government to build international relationships with other countries and organisations, especially the like-minded ones.
Global governance should seek to mobilise all progressive forces into a common programme to work towards greater peace and stability, dialogue, multilateralism and the closing of the gap between the poor and the rich nations. It should mean struggling for a greater sovereignty for developing nations in order for them to choose their own economic and development path without undue influence by the developed nations.
However, it must be noted that all countries are affected by the recent global economic crisis. The economic crisis has been characterised as the worst since 1929. The recent crisis which affected mostly Asian countries was between 1997 and 1998. In the past we may have exaggerated the global financial crisis. We may have underestimated the ability of countries to survive the recession. We certainly need to learn the hard lessons, positive and negative, from the attempts of this century to build fair, just and inclusive global governance.
Over the last decade we were bombarded with the triumph of the so-called New World Order, after the dramatic events in Eastern Europe between 1989 and 1991 distracted attention away from an even greater human tragedy. After 20 years of claims of a New World Order, the world's superpowers failed to turn their Cold War victory into anything resembling a stable, let alone just and humane, world order.
Global governance should promote national service delivery. It should lead to economic development and peace and security, not just abroad, but specifically to meet the needs of South Africans. It should enhance nation- building and national consciousness or patriotism. In this regard, the strategy and tactics document recognises the overarching role of the national democratic revolution in the construction of a peaceful and stable South Africa.
The current international balance of forces requires that progressive forces be united around a common programme within the global governance system. Our country continues to pursue issues relating to arms control, such as disarmament and nonproliferation, and is also seeking to secure a stronger, more binding global agreement on climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These strategic tasks occupied South Africa even more in its term as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council.
With regard to this point, I would like to refer quickly to the hon Mubu who was saying that we were violating human rights. Unfortunately, the hon Mubu was not here yet - maybe he is getting his information from the media - when the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs in the previous term had an opportunity to call the department to explain the position that was taken in respect of Myanmar. South Africa has always put human rights at the centre of our engagements at home and abroad, including at the UN. We are a very active member of the UN Human Rights Council.
Hon Magau, hold on for a minute. Is that a point of order, hon member?
Chair, it is indeed. With all due respect, the hon Mubu never said any such thing. Thank you. [Interjections.]
Hon member, could we just allow the member to continue.
Chairperson, the hon Mubu referred to the Myanmar issue, and I am responding to the hon Mubu who is a member of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Co-operation. I am not sure about the Madam over there.
Excuse me, I believe that I am referred to as an hon member and I am the DA Whip. So, please don't refer to me in those derogatory terms.
Okay, the hon member of the DA.
Chairperson, I was saying to the hon Mubu that our government is an active member of the UN Human Rights Council, and the issue at the United Nations was that the matter was not addressed by the right committee, the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations. Rather, it was sent to the United Nations Security Council where it does not belong. That's why South Africa did what it did, and it was the right thing to do. We as the ANC supports ... Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon Chair, every time I have this interaction I go back home rejuvenated, excited that we have dedicated committee members and hon members who really want South Africa to continue shining in the international arena. Today's debate did not disappoint me.
I just want to take this opportunity to humbly remind hon members that we have started talks on public diplomacy. We have done so knowing and having observed that there was a gap. I am very excited that so many of our hon members here have taken this issue so seriously. They are already questioning if we are making desirable progress.
In the last province I visited, the Free State - one of three provinces that I visited - I was so humbled to see 3 000 ordinary people of the Free State in a hall in the afternoon asking very interesting questions about connectivity. The main point they wanted to address was connectivity between our foreign policy and our five key priority areas.
There are times when you are even tempted to think that it's about time to find a way to encourage one child from that particular community to join our department, even as a cadet, because they are very keen to continue this good work.
Talking about nonstate actors, I thought it was this department that said it was about time we opened up the debate about who played in the international forum, who defined and who made contributions to the wellbeing of our foreign policy. I thought it was this department that has called upon big business, and they have responded positively. I am talking about the biggest businesses such as MTN, Sasol and others who have asked me what else I think they should do as our nonstate actors.
It is true that that is why we are talking about establishing the foreign policy council and bringing this White Paper to Parliament. I love the excitement that comes from this Parliament, from our businesses, from our youth organisations outside this room. I want to tell you that this call we are making - the call we made yesterday - is nonpartisan.
Every country I have been an ambassador to has had no-go areas and consensus on issues of national defence policy and foreign policy. No political party even enters those areas to start playing games around them, even during the electioneering period. I am talking here about big democracies like India. They can call each other names when they want to garner votes, but when it comes to these two critical areas, they will swear like they would swear with their constitution. I pray for the day when South Africans have a national consensus, and I agree on the no-go areas of foreign policy and defence policy. I think we can co-operate on everything else. We are not Foreign Affairs; we are International Relations and Co- operation. Everybody from that and this side of the House has been very positive, and the interventions I have been listening to were all very positive.
Let me say to the hon Smuts Ngonyama that in this country, when you were still a member of the liberation movement, the one and only, you knew very well that not a single president came to the Presidency through his own popularity or his own policies. The policies of the ANC are informed by the policy conference - the last one you attended was at Gallagher Estate - in terms of what we would expect of you.
In this country, we have had President Mandela, we have had President Mbeki, we had President Kgalema for a short while, and now we have President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. The message he delivers around the world is a message informed by the policies of the ANC, by what the populace of South Africa say to him. He is a President that all political parties in this country, including the opposition, say is a very consultative President.
So, when he goes out this country and into the world and is well received, he represents all of us. Who is leading the message - and a clear message - on behalf of all of us? President Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. When you list the number of presidents who have been in power, you stop at Mbeki. You are the only one who conveniently does not remember to mention your President - my President.
Talking about what the message is that we are sending out there, we are delivering a message to Africa of peace, security and development. What message does President Zuma deliver? A message of peace, security and development. Our two Deputy Ministers and I, and all the officials you see here, support him as the chief adviser of the foreign policy of this country.
When the people of Burundi, when the people of the entire Intergovernmental Authority on Development region, when the people of Zimbabwe see him - the MDC or whatever - they all say, "This is the man of peace", as the people of KwaZulu-Natal would say.
President Jacob Zuma spent months and months of his life in Burundi. When the Burundians attained peace in their own country, they chose to sacrifice their lives in Somalia because they wanted to repay their debt to President Zuma, South Africa and the SA National Defence Force, which supported their efforts to attain peace in their country. They looked back and saw that Somalia was becoming a failed state and said, "We are going there to make our contribution". So, this is what they say about the President of South Africa, President Zuma.
What does president Obama say about President Zuma? It was the first time in my life that I heard a president of the United States say:
President Zuma, because you are a man of peace, a leader of grass-roots people, I, President Barrack Obama, want you to know that at the end of my term you can say you had an ally and a friend in the United States of America, and we shall support all your efforts in attaining your five key priority areas.
[Applause.]
I have heard the president of China, president Hu Jintao, saying this in a meeting held at our embassy. This shows the level of respect that the people of China, under the leadership of their president, have for our President. When we were in Brazil, a bilateral meeting was held at our embassy and not at the Chinese embassy.
I am responding to your question that we must check our radar as to whether we are rising or falling. I want you to get answers to whether we are rising or falling from these practical examples that I have witnessed.
Hon Holomisa, we have said that I did that, and I got the message from my predecessor, the hon Dlamini-Zuma, that yes, when we were on the United Nations Security Council for the first time, we learnt lessons. One of the lessons was that we thought that South Africans understood what we were going to do there, but we had very little time to communicate what we were doing at the United Nations Security Council and why we needed to be there. Now we are closing that gap.
That is why we are engaging right from the outset, even as we seek votes from other countries, by saying, "Here we are, and we need to walk together". Walk the talk of co-ordination with ordinary men and women on the street. Even when we are in Botshabelo, we tell them what we are doing at the United Nations Security Council.
Hon Minister, could you finish up. Your time has expired.
Yes, sir, I will. Hon Dudley, yes, we now have the SADC rapid response force or, if you like, the SADC brigade, which is one of the regional economic communities' brigades. We were the first to consolidate it to see how we could continue to protect women and children during times of strife.
Hon Mokgalapa, I learnt from your colleagues from the committee that all the things you said you learnt from the information you got from the department. So, well done! You are learning fast. [Laughter.] You know, talking about influence, I don't remember a single meeting or international gathering at which leaders of the world don't look around and say, "President Zuma hasn't made his comments as yet". Do you agree? If you say yes, then the agenda goes on.
Hon members, I really heartily want to say once again ...ke a leboga. [Thank you.]
I go out into the world to represent South Africa, knowing that you are behind us. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.