[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         THE VISIT OF NELSON MANDELA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I want to welcome President 
Mandela to the United States on the occasion of his first trip to 
America as Head of State, and to pay special tribute to him as a unique 
leader. His emergence from prison, and his ascent to the Presidency of 
the new South Africa, are a testament to his leadership, to his 
courage, and, at the same time, to his humility. He is successfully 
leading all of his people to a new South Africa.
  I visited Nelson Mandela in South Africa 2 years ago, before I joined 
the Senate and before his election to the Presidency. I was struck at 
that time by his vision, by his total commitment to build a unified 
South Africa. And as someone who was involved through the years in the 
struggle against apartheid in this country, it gave me great pride to 
attend his inauguration as President in May.
  South Africa has a long history of struggle that has been duly 
recognized by the international community. Mahatma Ghandi began his 
work preaching nonviolent civil disobedience in South Africa. Albert 
Luthuli was award the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960. It was later awarded 
to Bishop Desmond Tutu. And last year F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela 
were so honored. This continuum of leadership was critical to the 
evolution of democracy today.
  I also want to acknowledge the vision of Vice President de Klerk. He 
came to understand that the continuation of apartheid was untenable. 
Many white South Africans undoubtedly came to the same conclusion. But 
it takes a great leader to negotiate a peaceful transition to a new 
political order.
  The United States and the international community recognized and 
supported and assisted in the struggle against apartheid. But the work 
is not finished. We must continue to lay the framework to ensure that 
President Mandela and South African democracy succeed. President 
Mandela and the South African people have won the war against racial 
injustice. But that war is only a preamble to the war against poverty, 
against homelessness, and against illiteracy.
  Today, South Africa is on verge of becoming one of the most 
influential nations in Africa. It can become an engine of economic 
growth for the whole continent. But it is also a shining example to the 
world that political revolution can be peaceful. It can be negotiated. 
It can occur without bloodshed and without civil war.
  President Mandela has extended the hand of reconciliation to all 
South Africans. That country is enjoying stability because he has 
assured blacks as well as whites, coloreds as well as Asians, that 
everyone has a role to play in the new South Africa. And the people 
understand that everyone will benefit. We saw enormously long voting 
lines last April because no matter which party they supported, each 
person felt a vested interest in the development of the new South 
Africa. I believe that all of the enthusiasm and good will is in no 
small part due to the leadership and vision of Nelson Mandela.
  We, in the U.S. Government, must now ask ourselves what we can do to 
help consolidate the incredible gains that have taken place. President 
Mandela has come to the United States not seeking aid. He has come 
seeking trade. His message is that South Africa is open for business.
  Trade and investment are critical to the future success of President 
Mandela and the new South Africa, economic prosperity is the only 
guarantor of future stability, but expanding trade is good for the 
United States too. United States investment creates South African jobs. 
The standard of living of individual South Africans rises. More and 
more South Africans become consumers and able to afford United States 
products. As the United States sells more and more American made 
products to South Africa, we create jobs here at home. United States 
investment in South Africa today will encourage job creation and expand 
economic opportunities for both Americans and South Africans tomorrow, 
just as expanding trade and investment has expanded economic growth and 
improved the standard of living for people around the world throughout 
our history.
  The U.S. Government has responded. President Clinton sent a trade 
mission to South Africa led by Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown. The 
Commerce Department has targeted South Africa as one of the 10 big 
emerging markets for United States exports. The United States 
Information Agency and some Members of Congress hosted a conference in 
Atlanta devoted to encouraging American trade and investment in South 
Africa. Some States have set up trade offices in South Africa.
  U.S. multinationals have also responded. On Monday, Pepsi Cola 
announced a $20 million investment in a bottling venture that includes 
substantial investment from African-American entrepreneurs. This is but 
one high profile investment. Thirty United States firms have reinvested 
in South Africa since last year when Nelson Mandela asked for all trade 
restrictions to be lifted. I am very proud that Sara Lee, based in 
Chicago, is the largest United States employer in South Africa with 
over 4,700 employees.
  These business people are not investing in South Africa out of 
altruism alone. They are investing because there is money to be made. 
In 1993, South Africa bought $2.2 billion worth of United States 
products, mostly airplanes, airplane parts, and grain. But forecasts 
predict that United States sales to South Africa could grow to $3.4 
billion in 5 years. For this to happen, for the customer base to grow, 
South Africa must create jobs. It must provide for the wider 
distribution of wealth.
  South Africa is blessed with valuable natural resources. It is a 
beautiful land, which tourists will find enchanting. South Africa has 
the best transportation infrastructure in Africa. It has modern banking 
and commercial laws. It has signed the GATT Agreements to reenter the 
international community of trading nations. And it has a hardworking 
labor force that is eager for new jobs and new opportunities.
  Democracy means more than one person, one vote. It means more than 
the election of a President from the African majority. For democracy to 
succeed, it must meet the needs of all its people.

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