[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       THE STATE VISIT OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, it was my distinct pleasure to welcome 
Nelson Mandela back to the Foreign Relations Committee, this time as 
President of South Africa. When President Mandela was last with us on 
July 1, 1993, he came to our Committee as president of one of the most 
prominent opposition parties in Africa. Today I, along with my Senate 
and House colleagues had the honor of welcoming him as President of one 
of the most powerful countries in Africa. South Africans have 
definitively ended apartheid by holding their first multiracial 
elections and electing our distinguished guest as President to lead a 
government of national unity. Freedom and democracy have triumphed in 
South Africa.
  In addition to visiting the Foreign Relations Committee today, 
President Mandela addressed a Joint Session of Congress and spoke with 
me and my colleagues at a luncheon. Our discussions were fruitful. I 
applaud the steps he has taken to ensure reconciliation in South Africa 
by bringing members from a wide spectrum of the opposition into the 
government. I remain hopeful that this endeavor and the economic 
reconstruction of South Africa will progress further this year.
  In his speech this morning, President Mandela declared himself deeply 
moved by the commitment of the people of the United States to stay the 
course with South Africans as they strengthen democracy and attempt to 
banish poverty and deprivation in their land. The United States 
government--as well as its individual citizens have lent their support 
to South Africa. Last spring, the Clinton administration doubled its 
assistance package to South Africa; an augmentation that I supported. 
And with the new democratic climate and relative decline in violence 
there is a new willingness by United States investors to return to 
South Africa. Twenty-two United States companies returned to South 
Africa during 1993-1994. President Mandela told me this afternoon that 
the environment for investment in South Africa is ideal. In 1994, money 
has been flowing into, rather than out of, the country because internal 
and external investors have confidence in the political stability of 
the country--a political stability which the people of South Africa 
have guaranteed.
  It was through economics that the United States did its part to help 
end apartheid. This time, through trade and expansion of the ties once 
cut, the United States can help the people of South Africa on their 
path to reconciliation and reconstruction. Let us follow President 
Mandela's call to join them as they walk along that road.

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