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<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <title></title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> 2004/22 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE BILL GRAHAM, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AT THE CANADIAN COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICANS FREEDOM DAY DINNER TORONTO, Ontario April 24, 2004 The historic events we are marking today happened not just 10 years ago, but over the course of the remarkable 10 years since then. Over the past decade, South Africans have taken their country in directions brighter and more prosperous than could ever have been imagined back in 1994. Through its unique transformation from apartheid state to multiracial democracy, South Africa has become a global model of tolerance and successful conflict resolution, as well as an example of a dynamic and transparent African economy. It is extraordinary to realize that, just two weeks ago, South Africa held its third democratic general elections, judged to be fair and largely free of violence. And I might say that the stability of the present South African political landscape is looking particularly appealing. More seriously, Canada and South Africa are now more alike than ever in being diverse and innovative countries, with leaders in civil society, in business and in government who hold strong convictions about the societies in which we live and the global village we share. Canadians care deeply about these developments and their potential, as they have cared about South Africa for decades during its liberation struggle and in the fledgling years of its new democracy. Canadian support for the anti-apartheid movement was significant in that it was based on a broad public consensus and brought together parliamentarians from all political parties. This was due in no small part to the strong anti-apartheid agenda pursued by the Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility, by the Canadian Labour Congress and trade unionists throughout the country, by the NGO community, and through protests and divestment campaigns at the university and community levels across the country. As the violence in South Africa intensified during the 1980s, Canada distanced itself from some traditional allies by becoming a strong supporter of sanctions. Canada chaired the Committee of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers on South Africa. On the ground, Canadian diplomatic staff witnessed trials and demonstrations and attended rallies and funerals in the townships. Our embassy's Dialogue Fund supported small-scale projects backing the pro-democracy movement. And CIDA established an official aid program for South Africa that was unique in being driven by human rights concerns, and in responding directly to requests from the black community. Great South African personalities such as Archbishop [Desmond] Tutu and President [Nelson] Mandela were born of this struggle and, I dare say, are as familiar to Canadians as many of our own political figures. It was a great personal experience for me to attend President Mandela's address to the joint House and Senate session on the occasion of his receiving honorary Canadian citizenship. But an even greater day for me was when he came to the school now named in his honour, [Nelson] Mandela Park School, located in my riding, and I was able to watch the love and respect and affection in those young eyes as he told the students of the importance of education in their lives, and that their success need not be predicated on race or status. He inspired them to think of one day consecrating their lives to the service of their country as a member of parliament. Today, now that the anti-apartheid struggle is past, Canada remains linked to South Africa through bonds of shared values and a shared view of global interests. We both cherish the place of culture and diversity in our societies. We cooperate on policy dialogues about the environment and climate change. We work together in the Human Security Network to promote the security of individuals as a central priority of national foreign policy. And, of course, we are working to help South Africa's fight against HIV/AIDS, through CIDA's development assistance and through Bill C-9, which will allow South Africa and other developing countries to access low-cost treatments for HIV/AIDS and other epidemics. Furthermore, our relations with South Africa's democratically elected government have allowed the collaboration between our countries to go beyond people-to-people ties into new areas of shared interest. Last fall, we had the honour of welcoming President [Thabo] Mbeki to Canada. During his visit, [South African] Foreign Minister [Nkosazana Dlamini-]Zuma and I signed the Joint Declaration of Intent to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation, which launched a number of new initiatives, including increased cooperation in science and technology, greater dialogue in the transport and environment sectors, and ambitious plans to spur commercial ties between our two countries. South Africa's importance to Canada in this regard is real. Today, the South African economy is in its healthiest state in 40 years, with a growing black middle class in its increasingly urban society. It is home to $1 billion in Canadian investment. South Africans are also becoming major investors in Canada, to the amount of $238 million in 2002. South Africa is our largest commercial partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with extensive trade in manufactured goods and complex services flowing in both directions. Under the leadership of presidents Mandela and Mbeki, Canada's partnership is now anchored in a common vision of global prosperity and security. Our global vision includes a belief in the importance of multilateralism and the desire to see the UN work better. We both commit significant resources to conflict prevention, through peacekeeping and mediation efforts. Above all, we are both committed to seeing that South Africa's historic transformation becomes a model for Africa as a whole. As the lead architect of NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and as a driving force behind the African Union's reforms, South Africa has taken the lead in promoting political and economic reform on the continent. This agenda is critical to Canada, as we've demonstrated through consistent high-level political support, coupled with substantial financial assistance. This continuing commitment will certainly be reflected in the outcomes of the International Policy Review that I am presently conducting and that will also, I am sure, reinforce South Africa's importance as a special partner for Canada. In 1960, South African writer Alan Paton said the following: "I envision someday a great, peaceful South Africa in which the world will take pride, a nation in which each of many different groups will be making its own creative contribution." His hope took long to be realized, but today it is being realized, more rapidly and dramatically than anyone could have imagined. As we celebrate South Africa's achievements over the past decade, Canadians look forward to another decade of growing partnership and to the prospects it holds for the prosperity and security of each of our countries, for the African continent and for the wider global arena. Thank you. </body> </html>

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