F. W. De KlerkMr. President, Mrs. De klerk, your Excellencies, my Lords, ladies and gentlemen.
This is an important occasion, and for many of us rather an emotional one. After many years, we can once more gather as true friends to welcome among us the leaders of South Africa. And we do extend a very warm and genuine welcome to you, Mr. President, to Mrs. De Klerk, and to all the members of your distinguished delegation.
Looking back over the year since we first met, one can only marvel at the remarkable transformation which has taken place, both inside South Africa and in your place in the world. That change is a tremendous tribute to you, Mr. President, to your vision and to your determination.
The reception which you have been given on your visits to European capitals shows the very great distance which South Africa has travelled in these last months back [end p1] towards full international recognition and acceptance. You have raised South Africa's reputation to levels we have not seen in the last forty years.
That is important to you. But is it also important to us. We remember that South Africans fought and died with us in two world wars. We have not forgotten the days when we were allies. We would like those days to come again, and I believe they will.
When we met last year, I promised you Britain's full support for steps towards a new democratic and non-racial constitution for South Africa, and you will continue to have that support.
We have stood up for South Africa and for contact with South Africa even in the difficult times, because we never believed that sanctions were the way to achieve progress: they would only make it much more difficult to build a [end p2] prosperous South Africa which is the best hope for the future.
Mr. President, we have all admired the courage with which you have embarked on creating a new South Africa. We also—and I know you share this view—admire the spirit of reconciliation in which Mr. Mandela has approached his talks with you: and of course we are looking forward to his visit in July.
You have set yourselves a very ambitious task: the ending of apartheid and the creation of a new South Africa. There is a long distance still to travel and there will be great difficulties on the way. But we have great confidence in you, Mr.President, and we believe you will achieve that goal. We have seen what has already been achieved, for instance, in Namibia, and that gives us hope for the future. [end p3]
All of us here want you to succeed and will give you all the help and support we can, help with trade, help with investment, help for education and housing for South Africa's black people. Because if you can do it, if you can succeed, there is hope not just for South Africa itself but for all of Africa.
So we thank and congratulate you, Mr. President, on what you have already achieved. You have the good wishes of all of us as you continue your great endeavours. I ask all of our guests to rise and drink a toast to your success and to South Africa's future.