SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA IS ON A THREE DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO INDIA. THE VISIT AIMS AT STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TIES BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.MR. MANDELA SAID IN NEW DELHI FRIDAY THAT INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA HAVE MADE RAPID PROGRESS IN THEIR RELATIONS SINCE HE LAST VISITED INDIA TWO YEARS AGO.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT AIMS AT IDENTIFYING AREAS IN WHICH BOTH NATIONS CAN STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN BILATERAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN THE INDIAN CAPITAL HE EMPHASIZED THAT INDIA HAD PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN BRINGING AN END TO APARTHEID.
INDIA IS ONE OF OUR BEST FRIENDS. AS I HAVE SAID, IT HAS INFLUENCED THE POLITICAL THINKING IN OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR VICTORY AGAINST APARTHEID IS THE VICTORY OF INDIA, SO EXTENSIVE HAS BEEN THEIR SUPPORT.
MR. MANDELA'S TALKS WITH INDIAN LEADERS FOCUSSED ON RESTRUCTURING OF THE UNITED NATIONS. BOTH NATIONS ARE SEEKING REFORMS IN THE WORLD BODY. IN THIS CONNECTION, MR. MANDELA SAID THAT HE FAVORED WHAT HE TERMED A 'DRASTIC RESTRUCTURING' OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND AN END TO THE POWER OF VETO HELD BY THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
WE DON'T ACCEPT THAT A FEW NATIONS SHOULD DICTATE TO THE WORLD BY VIRTUE OF THE EXERCISE OF THE VETO, BECAUSE WHEN THEY BLOCK A SUGGESTION WHICH MAY BE SUPPORTED BY THE ENTIRE WORLD, ONE COUNTRY BLOCKS THAT SUGGESTION, THAT PROPOSAL, IT MEANS THAT ONE COUNTRY IS EXERCISING A POWER WHICH IS FAR BEYOND WHAT JUSTICE AND EQUITY REQUIRES.
MR. MANDELA HAS HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, FOREIGN MINISTER AND OTHER TOP POLITICIANS. SOUTH AFRICA IS EAGER TO INCREASE TRADE WITH INDIA, AND WANTS TO ESTABLISH A TRADING BLOC OF COUNTRIES AROUND THE INDIAN OCEAN. ALONG WITH INDIA, IT HAS CO-FOUNDED THE 14-MEMBER INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION.
28-Mar-97
Source: Voice of America