Thabo Mbeki, President, ANC: Policing in Northern Ireland
25 January, 2007
On behalf of the African National Congress of South Africa, I wish to express our support for the bold and decisive steps shown by Sinn Fein's leadership in facing up to the difficult issue of support for policing in the six counties and by calling a special conference (Ard Fheis) on January 28 to decide this issue.
The process of transition from conflict to peace is never easy. Peace processes have to overcome many difficult obstacles. Old positions have to be set aside and risks taken in pursuit of political objectives and a just peace serving the people's interest where new conditions and possibilities arise.
The South African peace process had many ups and downs. Not least among these was reconciling the apartheid police service into a new security system of a democratic South Africa. This was very difficult but with our unity and perseverance, we succeeded.
We understand the political and emotional problems created by unjust, sectarian policing in the past and the enormous challenge policing presents for Sinn Fein and your people today.
Sinn Fein has made significant progress in negotiations in recent years and in recent months on this issue. Because of this and the firm leadership you have consistently shown throughout the peace process we are certain that you will successfully resolve this difficult issue and ensure a Northern Ireland police service that is democratically accountable and protects and serves all citizens fairly and equally in a transparent and just manner.
On behalf of the ANC may I extend our fraternal greetings and best wishes to the Sinn Fein leadership and its political activists. We are confident that you will succeed in achieving your political goals.
We also urge the other parties to this conflict resolution process to work in partnership with Sinn Fein to create a better future for the people of Ireland. All of the parties need to play a full and honest in this historic process.
From: Thabo Mbeki, President, ANC
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