Special edition
Haitian Independence Bicentennial
South
African President Mbeki travelling to Hati's bicentennial
celebration will attempt to reconcile the divided parties
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The
road from South Africa to Haiti is indeed very long and the
example offered by the first black Republic of the world in
its failure to establish democracy can be very discouraging
for black people all over the world. However, President
Mbeki is , despite all the discouraging news,
making an historical trip to take part in the celebration of
Haiti's bicentennial. There are also report about
his intention to mediate a peace talk among the Haitians.
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According to AllAfrica.com,
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki's visit to Haiti to mark the bicentenary of
the Haitian revolution against France could lead to SA's mediation
in peace talks to end years of internal conflict in the embattled
Caribbean state.
It is understood according to the same source
that rebels (the opposition parties) in Haiti are in favour of
Mbeki's mediation and the French government supports the idea on the
grounds that SA's experience with peace talks in the Democratic
Republic of Congo and Burundi could help Haitians reach a
longlasting peace settlement.
The South African leader is expected to
discuss peace initiatives in Haiti upon his return.
Mbeki wrote in the Sunday Times yesterday that
although the Haitian revolution did not bring about lasting
democracy, SA must draw lessons from that experience.
He said as the African slaves of Haiti
succeeded in defeating three of the great European imperial powers
Spain, Great Britain and France so could South Africans "defeat
the challenge of poverty and underdevelopment that confronts
Africans everywhere".
Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in
the world and continues to be afflicted by political instability.
Mbeki said its failure to maintain a stable
democracy, which has plagued it since its independence, was an
urgent task that the South African government felt had to be
addressed.
SA's intervention in Haiti was raised a few
weeks ago during a visit there by advisers to Mbeki and Foreign
Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to finalise logistics about
Mbeki's visit. However, SA's intervention in the conflict means that
South Africans will have to celebrate another round of New Year
festivities without Mbeki because his international and diplomatic
schedule has remained hectic.
Last year at the same time he travelled to
Brazil and celebrated New Year with Brazilians at their inauguration
of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Accompanied by his wife, Zanele, and
Dlamini-Zuma, Mbeki
landed yesterday in the Bahamas for a state visit and to forge
diplomatic relations.
He will then proceed to Haiti to participate
in its New Year celebrations marking the bicentenary which
established the first black republic in the world.
Presidential spokesman Bheki Khumalo said the
president's departure did not mean he cared less about his country.
"The public will appreciate the fact that
the president's visit to Brazil had brought about unimaginable
economic benefits in 2003 and that it was instrumental in ensuring
Brazil's support for our Soccer World Cup bid," Khumalo said.
Foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said
the regional influence that the Bahamas held in the Caribbean,
especially within the context of the Caribbean Community (Caricom),
was strategic for SA.
Mamoepa said the Bahamas was focusing on the
establishment of a single market in the region and the Caribbean
Court of Justice.
Mbeki's visit, therefore, aimed to forge
closer relations with the countries of the Caricom, he said.
Caption picture : President Thabo Mebeki arriving in the Bahamas
with his wife Zanele.
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