H. Res. 560

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

October 5, 1994.

Whereas the first ever nonracial democratic elections were

held in South Africa in April 1994, resulting in a

broadbased Government of National Unity led by President Nelson Mandela, thereby ending 350 years of racial

segregation known as apartheid;

Whereas Nelson Mandela will be received by President Clinton on the occasion of his historic state visit to the

United States as the first head of state representing the

newly democratic Republic of South Africa;

Whereas South Africa, rich in natural and human resources,

is already one of the most important countries on the African continent and, with the end of apartheid, has the

potential to become a major world leader;

Whereas South Africa has a critical role to play within the

Southern Africa region as well as throughout the continent as a stable model of democracy and economic

development;

Whereas if South Africa were to fail in its efforts to create

a stable nonracial democracy, the ripple effect on the rest

of the continent would be costly in terms of lives and

emergency assistance;
2

HRES 560 EH

Whereas the early stages of the transition in South Africa

have proven to be an exceptional example of political reconciliation and compromise critical to nation-building;

Whereas Nelson Mandela’s exemplary leadership has further

enhanced South Africa’s opportunities in the area of reconstruction and development;

Whereas President Nelson Mandela has asked the international community for substantial support as South Africa struggles to meet the needs of its 41,000,000 people;

Whereas the United States has stated that one of its major

foreign policy objectives is to support the enlargement of

democracy throughout the world;

Whereas the transition to a nonracial democratic society in

South Africa is very much in the interest of the United

States;

Whereas opposition to apartheid in South Africa has been a

longstanding theme of the foreign policies of both Republican and Democratic Administrations;

Whereas the Congress of the United States, in both the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 and the South Africa Democratic Transition Support Act of 1993, has

taken particular interest in the transition to a democratic

nonracial society in South Africa;

Whereas United States support contributed significantly to

the holding of free and fair elections in South Africa;

Whereas the United States has pledged its continuing commitment to long-term development for South Africa in

the post-apartheid era; and

Whereas President Clinton announced a post-election initiative for South Africa that will provide support for the
3

HRES 560 EH

new Government of South Africa and assistance to communities there at the grassroots level: Now, therefore, be

it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—

3 (1) President Nelson Mandela, the first head of

4 state of a nonracial democratic South Africa, de5 serves the congratulations and support of the United

6 States;

7 (2) the United States shall remain engaged in

8 the political and economic development of South

9 Africa;

10 (3) assistance to South Africa should continue

11 to focus on such issues as job creation, housing, en12 terprise development, education, democracy, and

13 health; and

14 (4) steps should be taken to increase trade, in15 vestment, and development in South Africa.

Attest:

Clerk.