JOHANNESBURG: Contrary to expectations in New Delhi, African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela has said its future Government will abide by the United Nations decision on Kashmir.
Though the ANC had confidence in India to son out the issue, South Africa would be “influenced by the leadership of the two countries involved on how to deal with Kashmir,” Mandela said here.
South Africa is not yet a member of the UN but is likely to be admitted in it after the elections and India would like to see it as an ally in the world body. An apparently “even handed” attitude on Kashmir from the ANC, which has received unrestrained finance at and other assistance from India over 40 years as well as aggression support in world bodies, would not go down too well with India.
During the luncheon questions centered on domestic South African politics in the post-electoral situation when the ANC is widely expected to dominate a Government of national unity, But In his brief address Mandela referred to his party’s commitment to expand “South-south” relations He said human rights would be major plank of the new Governments foreign policy.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 28, 1994
