The United States and SADC agreed to undertake annual working consultations on ways to address the problem of small arms and light weapons. SADC welcomed the U.S. offer to send technical assistance teams for exchanges of views on surplus weapons and excess stockpiles. The United States suggested to undertake a joint U.S.-SADC communiqu by foreign ministers on the margins of the 2000 United Nations General Assembly meeting which will address adherence to UN sanctions and restraint in the sale of conventional arms. The Forum welcomed the SADC Region's continued consolidation of a culture of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. In particular, the Forum noted that Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa successfully held elections in 1999 and Zimbabwe held a constitutional referendum in February 2000.
Continued assistance is needed, however, to improve election administration and processes.
The Forum noted that efforts are underway to uphold the rule of law by strengthening police and judicial structures and by adhering to national constitutions. In addition, watchdog institutions continue to be created to defend human rights. The Forum observed that in terms of civil and political rights, freedom of the press must be upheld. Consensus emerged that all coups are anathema. The Forum noted SADC's leadership role in the campaign to exclude the participation of governments that had come to power through military coups or unconstitutional means in OAU meetings and unequivocally confirmed support for this principle.