Birchwood Conference Centre, BOKSBURG, 14 July 2005

MINISTERIAL SESSION OF THE 26^TH MEETING OF THE INTER-STATE DEFENCE & SECURITY COMMITTEE (ISDSC), BIRCHWOOD CONFERENCE CENTRE, BOKSBURG, 14 JULY 2005

Keynote Address by the Minister for Intelligence Services of the Republic of South Africa, Honourable Mr Ronnie Kasrils, MP (Leader of RSA Delegation)

HONOURABLE MINISTER MOSIUOA LEKOTA, CHAIRPERSON OF THE SADC ISDSC; HONOURABLE SADC MINISTERS OF DEFENCE, PUBLIC SECURITY AND STATE SECURITY; THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF SADC, DR PREGA RAMSAMY; PERMANENT SECRETARIES, DIRECTORS GENERAL, CHIEFS OF DEFENCE FORCES, CHIEFS OF POLICE SERVICES & CHIEF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS; SENIOR OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS.

It is indeed an honour for me in my capacity as leader of the South African delegation to welcome you to the Ministerial Session of the 26^th meeting of the SADC Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC) here in Boksburg.

In his welcoming remarks the Chair covered the broad global context in which this gathering of the ISDSC takes place. I wish to reiterate some of the issues he raised which will impact on the visibility and profile of our engagements aimed at securing peace, stability and post-conflict reconstruction in Africa.

The centrality of the SADC ISDSC to peace and stability in our region means that we have to be very effective in the way we work, plan and deliver on expectations. It is imperative that we continue to demonstrate to the international community our ability to take collective ownership of and our commitment to solving our own problems.

Currently our region is stable. There is no interstate conflict nor violent hostilities besides the occasional localised clashes in the DRC. Notwithstanding these outbreaks, the transitional arrangements that have been put in place in the DRC have been tested and have proved resilient.

Much of this stability is as a result of a real commitment to the consolidation of democracy and governance in our region. In this regard, the successful elections held in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Mauritius and Zimbabwe are a reflection of this. In particular, the success of these elections resides in their compliance with the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections. As a result they were accompanied by an absence of violence where the smooth handover of power was the order of the day. Further, in instances where the constitutionally set tenure of Presidents has come to an end, leaders have vacated office, as reflected in Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia.

In addition, this stability has also been associated with the entrenchment of a collective approach to security through sustained partnership and co-operation, as illustrated by this very forum.

It also extends to all areas, including I might add, intelligence. The formation of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) last year is a particularly notable development, given the role that intelligence plays in cementing our work and enabling us to plan ahead. As the SADC we need to throw our weight squarely behind this Continental body in ensuring its success.

In pursuing this collective approach we recognise that the security and well-being of our own countries are inextricably tied to that of each other and indeed the Continent. The challenge, however, of deepening these partnerships remains, particularly since this period of relative stability cannot be guaranteed.

Not only must we build on and strengthen our existing partnerships within the region but we must also effectively reach out to the other regional security bodies operating across our Continent. It is only then that we will truly be in a strong position to carry out our mandate of forewarning our respective nations of imminent threats and in bolstering their efforts in containing and responding to them.

And in building and strengthening these partnerships, we need to ensure that we have the necessary legislation and protocols in place so that our region cannot be used as a base for training, transit or refuge for all manner and classes of threats.

In this regard, we must commend the notable intensification of regional co-operation on immigration over the last year. This co-operation is not only restricted to security matters but is also designed to develop the regional economy, through the free movement of persons in SADC.

Further, we must also strengthen our institutional capacity to respond more effectively to the security challenges confronting us in a collective manner.

In particular here I wish to highlight the need to further the progress that has been made in respect of the development of the regional chapter of the African Standby Force, given the centrality of its role in enhancing our capacity to establish peace and security on the Continent. In this regard, the recent joint military exercise, Thokgamo, involving all SADC Defence Force members hosted by Botswana is a clear example of the significant strides that have already been made in preparing and laying the basis for the Standby Force of the SADC Brigade. Let us build on this success!

Another important area is ensuring the operationalisation of the Regional Early Warning Centre. While the plans are in place and the processes are underway, we need to speed up our efforts and ensure that the Centre has the necessary resources to enable it to operate effectively. We must be in a position to identify critical developments in a timely manner so as to enable us to formulate coherent response strategies for the common good.

The recent horrific terrorist bombings in London are a stark reminder of the need for co-operation, partnership and speedy response to such atrocities. They underlie the fact that no state, no matter how powerful, is immune from the complex, unpredictable and interconnected nature of threats in today’s global environment.

At the same time the positive outcomes for Africa emanating from the G-8 Summit also underscores the importance of partnerships and co-operation. They reflect the shared responsibility for dealing with the collective security challenges of our time. Given the inextricable link between security and development, the increased pledges for aid, cancellation of debt and focused resources for infrastructural development, will assist us in dealing with those challenges which are a source of instability both in the region and on our Continent.

With regard to developments and progress with our agenda in the region since we last met in Cape Town, I want to refer back to some of the key issues which constitute the bulk of our work for this week:

You will recall that at our last meeting we resolved to send a mission to the DRC.

The objective of the mission, which took place from 12 – 13 May 2005, was to undertake an on-the-ground assessment of the situation in relation to the ‘Reform of the Security Sector’ (SSR); Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration/Rehabilitation (DDR) of former combatants into society; training and integration of armed forces into brigades for securing elections and eventually the formation of a DRC national defence force.

The assessment team for the mission was made up the current Chairman of the SADC ISDSC, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of South Africa, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Minister of Safety and Security of the Republic of Namibia and representatives of the UK and the Netherlands, in their capacity as potential donors.

The mission was highly commended as yet another tangible example of a united intervention – SADC acting as an integrated team.

This meeting of the ISDSC must apply its mind to the report of the ‘SADC ISDSC & Troika Assessment Mission to the DRC’. We need to look at what we have been doing which has been successful and what needs further work. The other issue that needs to be discussed in relation to the DRC is funding and sponsorship through SADC.

Other important developments in the DRC since our last meeting must also be highlighted. In this regard, we celebrate the fact that the DRC has adopted its Constitution. We especially welcome the provision enshrining 50% of women representation in Parliament.

The Interim Government has agreed to postpone elections to a later date in keeping with the Peace Agreement and is committed to the success of a free and fair election within agreed timeframes.

Both the DRC and Rwanda are committed to eliminating tensions in the Eastern DRC (North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri regions). The removal of Ex-Far and Interehamwe belligerents remains firmly on the agenda as long as they are deemed a clear obstacle to peace and stability in the DRC.

There has also been significant progress since we last met concerning the issue of the integration of the armed forces of the DRC. The first passing out parade took place in Kamina recently, which constitutes another celebratory milestone. We have received significant support from the UK and the Netherlands in this regard for which we are most grateful.

All parties in the DRC remain committed to democratic principles and a free and fair election process. It will be important to make every effort to ensure that we adhere to the new timetable, and implement the election process as early as possible.

Much progress has also been made in respect of Burundi. Last week’s successful election which saw close to 74% of voters going to the polls was hailed as free and fair by both the UN and the EU. The successful election has sent a clear message around the Great Lakes region that democratic processes are the only road to peace and stability. We hope that this positive development will impact most immediately on the situation in the DRC and also Côte d’Ivoire. One might optimistically claim that success breeds success.

In addition, the Local Government Elections which were held in Lesotho are yet another encouraging development in the recent period. In particular, the very high number of women candidates fielded in the elections are a reflection of the significant strides which have been made.

In closing, while much has been achieved, I am sure that you will agree that much more remains to be done. Let us therefore build on the good work already done by our officials in preparing the key issues for today’s Ministerial Session. On behalf of all the SADC Ministers participating in the session I wish this meeting success.