Resolutions of the ANC's 53rd National Conference, Mangaung, December 16-20 2012
6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Believing that:
1. The ANC in pursuit of its international relations objectives as directed by the Freedom Charter which states that "there shall be peace and friendship". Therefore, International Relations is utilised by the ANC to form friendships and to work towards peace in the continent and in the world, whilst pursuing South Africa's national interest.
2. ANC's international relations policy is directly informed by our domestic policy, and vice versa, and they are mutually reinforcing.
3. The ANC remains committed to its founding values of a struggle for a humane, just, equitable, democratic, and free world.
4. The development and prosperity of Africa remains the central objective of the ANC's international perspective and policy for purposes of advancing the African Renaissance.
5. ANC's international relations work is underpinned by a commitment to development, democracy, human rights, peace and security in the world.
Recognising that:
6. As the governing party, the ANC has used its progressive internationalism as a prism through which it views the world.
Its independent views and courage on the international stage has been acknowledged by many countries.
7. The current balance of forces provides challenges and opportunities for progressive forces, particularly manifest in:
a. The global contest between progressive and reactionary ideological perspectives on world affairs.
b. The global economic crisis.
c. Continued dominance of countries of the North.
d. Militarism and regime change doctrine.
e. The emergence of powers of the South.
f. The rise of Africa as an important actor in world affairs.
g. The uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East.
h. Global governance institutions remain untransformed.
i. A growing global civil society movement targeting capitalism.
j. The new scramble for Africa.
Recalling and Reaffirming:
8. All previous international relations resolutions of the 2002 National Conference in Stellenbosch and the 2007 National Conference in Polokwane including the 2010 General Council in Durban, particularly on:
a. Peace, Stability and end to Conflicts in Africa;
b. African Union Government;
c. South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA);
d. Refugee Policy and Immigration Policy;
e. Business Code of Conduct on the African Continent;
f. Parliamentary Diplomacy;
g. Political Party Foundation Funding;
h. Rebuilding bodies with the AU (PAWO & PAYM);
i. Rebuilding a Progressive Movement in Africa and the world.
9. The 2010 National General Council resolution identifies the six pillars of ANC's international work as follows:
a. Contributing to building a better Africa and a better world;
b. Continental and international solidarity;
c. Party-to-party, intra-lateral party and multilateral relations;
d. The transformation of global governance institutions;
e. Policy development issues;
f. Campaigns.
10. The ANC continues to work on the African continent and in the world through partyto- party relations, participation in relevant international forums, conflict resolution on the continent, involvement in campaigns, dealing with some of the transformational global governance issues and ensuring ongoing policy development.
11. The International Relations Department at the ANC Headquarters remains inadequately capacitated to co-ordinate the development of policy, lead campaigns and partner with like-minded organisations in doing international work 12. The ANC and the ANC-led government remain committed to the promotion of a humane, just, equitable, and free Africa.
Therefore Resolves:
ON PILLAR 1: CONTRIBUTING TO BUILDING A BETTER AFRICA AND BETTER WORLD BUILDING A BETTER AFRICA
The African Union (AU):
a. The ANC remains committed to the ideals and objectives of African Union, the operations of its institutions and the implementation of its programmes.
b. It joins the continent in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the African Union commencing in May 2013, recognising the important role it played in the struggle against colonialism and apartheid. It believes that this provides the continent with a strategic opportunity to reflect on the past 50 years and map out the way forward.
c. The ANC further congratulates the African Union for the election of the woman to be the chairperson of the AU Commission and calls upon the ANC-led government to provide the AU Commission with all the necessary support required.
d. The ANC resolves that the pivotal role that South Africa has played should continue, especially with regard to the strengtheningof the AU institutions, particularly the AU Commission.
e. Recognising that the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) are the building blocs of the AU, the ANC resolves that South Africa should continue working with other countries to strengthen RECs with special emphasis on SADC.
f. The ANC also resolves that South Africa should continue to play a meaningful role in the AU and in the implementation of its programme of peacemaking and peace building through dialogue.
g. The ANC strongly encourages that the ownership, control and utilisation of natural, marine and land resources as well as essential infrastructure must be to the benefit of the peoples of Africa.
h. The ANC calls on the AU to promote the regulation of multi-national companies without inhibiting investment, whilst simultaneously encouraging domestic industrial development and local investment.
i. The ANC-led government should continue to participate in the AU-led discussions on strengthening the role of the African Diaspora in the development of the continent.
j. The ANC encourages all African countries to pay their membership subscriptions to the AU and that the AU should continue to explore alternative sources of funding.
k. The ANC calls on the AU to encourage African countries to assist countries in great need, especially as a result of conflict and poverty, in the spirit of African solidarity.
l. The ANC encourages active participation of non-state actors and African citizens in AU and other African programmes for the purposes of deepening and broadening continental integration.
m. The ANC calls on the AU to continue to encourage African countries to diversify their economies and broaden their resource pool so as not to heavily depend on external sources of funding.
13. Pan African Parliament (PAP):
a. The ANC will continue to play an active role in strengthening the PAP and its work.
b. The ANC will lead the debate on the future of the PAP on the transformation of the parliament by giving full legislative powers.
40 c. The ANC will promote and celebrate the institution of PAP in South Africa.
d. South Africa resolves to assist the PAP to revitalise its role as a key catalyst for the unity and further democratisation of Africa.
e. South Africa should assist the PAP to establish or support regional parliaments in line with the regional bodies of the AU.
14. South African Development Community (SADC):
a. The ANC will encourage SADC to play a more meaningful role in the promotion of democracy within the region.
b. South Africa should ensure that the process of regional integration in Southern Africa is fast-tracked in accordance with SADC decisions.
c. South Africa should encourage the review of bilateral and SADC agreements with the view to strengthen their implementation.
d. The ANC and the ANC-led government should encourage SADC to promote the process of transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a SADC parliament.
15. Pan African Women's Organisation (PAWO):
a. The ANC will work together with other countries to strengthen the PAWO, particularly the Secretariat in which the ANCWL currently holds the Secretary- General position.
b. The ANC will ensure that the resolution on the formation of a Young Women's structure within PAWO is expedited.
16. Pan-African Youth Union:
a. South Africa as the 15th country to ratify the African Youth Charter, the ANC should work to strengthen the movement's ability to mobilise youth and the implementation of the Charter.
b. The ANC supports the AU's Decade of Youth Development (2008-2018) and the implementation of the related programmes.
17. All-Africa Student Union:
a. The ANC calls upon the AU to support the resuscitation of the All-Africa Students Union, which, in turn, must support student movements at regional and national levels. In the case of the region we specifically refer to the Southern Africa Student Union (SASU) and at national level referring to the student organisations that form part of the Mass Democratic Movement and the Progressive Youth Alliance.
The ANC sees the establishment of the Pan-African University by the AU as an important opportunity in this regard.
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD
18. South-South Cooperation:
a. The ANC views the strengthening of south-south cooperation and strategic relationships as crucial to its vision of a better world.
b. The ANC resolves to strengthen the IBSA forum and its ability to respond to strategic developmental challenges facing developing countries.
c. The ANC will continue strengthening the structures of multilateralism in the South including the Non-Aligned Movement and others.
19. Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS):
a. The ANC resolves that South Africa will start an awareness and educational programme to deepen the understanding of the importance and relevance of BRICS among citizens and in civil society. The occasion of our hosting of BRICS meetings in 2013 is an opportunity to accelerate this popularisation campaign.
b. The ANC will work towards ensuring that the BRICS Bank is established for the benefit of south-south development cooperation including Africa's development.
c. The ANC and the ANC-led government should effectively use our membership in BRICS to deepen the alignment of our policies with each of the individual BRICS countries.
d. The ANC will discuss with BRICS countries how the G20 can be better 41 utilised to promote a progressive agenda.
e. The ANC will consolidate party-toparty relations with BRICS countries to strengthen the relations and work towards a common understanding on issues.
f. The ANC will promote student exchange programmes for South African students with the BRICS countries as part of skills development and deepening people-to-people relations.
20. Peace, Security, Reconstruction and Development:
a. South African peacekeeping, post-conflict reconstruction and development initiatives cannot be separated from national interest where this is broadly defined to include the fostering of genuine peace and reconstruction initiatives in Africa.
b. In this regard, the ANC resolves to develop policy guidelines for South Africa's engagement in peacekeeping.
21. Swaziland:
a. The current conflict in Swaziland has negatively impacted the economy and human rights of the Swazis.
b. As the tripartite alliance we should merge our solidarity campaigns on the basis of a commonly-agreed framework of action.
c. The ANC calls on the Swazi monarch and leaders in Swaziland to create the space for open and free dialogue to find a lasting solution to the challenges facing Swaziland.
d. The ANC confirms its strong support for the people of Swaziland and will engage the Swaziland government to find solutions to the problems facing the people of Swaziland.
e. The ANC supports the campaigns for the unbanning of the political parties and the release of all political prisoners.
f. The ANC urges the Swazi government to adhere to the Memorandum of Understanding on the loan conditions, especially regarding democratisation.
22. Sudan and South Sudan:
a. The ANC will continue to support the process aimed at finding a lasting solution towards the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) including the issues of Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Abyei, taking into account recent agreements.
b. The ANC will engage with all political parties in both countries so as to ensure that as and when tensions arise there are mechanisms for dialogue and engagement.
c. The ANC will assist the new state of South Sudan to resolve its political, economic and developmental challenges.
d. The ANC will support the resolution of the complex political, security and developmental challenges in Sudan including Darfur.
23. Zimbabwe:
a. Through party to party relations, the ANC will continue to engage and support the efforts of SADC towards the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in Zimbabwe.
24. Madagascar:
a. ANC commits to a peaceful resolution of conflict in Madagascar and, therefore, supports the efforts SADC in this regard.
25. Somalia:
a) The ANC welcomes the formation of the new government which marked an end of the transition period.
b) The ANC will continue to promote political dialogue and provide development support to assist Somalia to achieve peace and development.
c) The ANC calls on the AU to galvanise collective action to stop piracy, illegal fishing, waste dumping on the Somali coastline, including international maritime formations, in order to secure its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
42 26. DRC
a. The ANC supports the efforts of the AU and the UN in finding lasting solutions to the conflict in the DRC including strengthening the relationship between DRC and Rwanda and Uganda.
27. Mali
a. The ANC is concerned about the conflict in Mali and the Sahel and supports the efforts of ECOWAS, the African Union and the UN in resolving these conflicts peacefully.
28. Guinea-Bissau
a. The ANC recalls the role played by Guinea-Bissau's liberation movement, the PAIGC, in supporting the liberation struggle in South Africa and resolves to mobilise the support of other former liberation movements on the continent for a peaceful resolution of the challenges in Guinea-Bissau.
b. The ANC supports the efforts of the African Union, ECOWAS, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries and the UN in resolving the challenges and ensuring a return to constitutional order, an end to millitarisation of institutions of governance, and the release of political prisoners.
29. Iran
a. The ANC supports the right of Iran and other signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
b. The ANC calls for continued multilateral dialogue on the issue of Iran to reach a peaceful consensus.
c. The ANC reiterates its opposition to unilateral action against Iran.
d. The ANC supports the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.
30. Syria
a. The ANC calls on all parties in the conflict in Syria to embark on dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the current situation.
b. The ANC continues to support the UN-led peace efforts in Syria including a cessation of all hostilities.
c. The ANC condemns the violence that is perpetrated by all parties to the conflict including the arming of Syrian parties.
31. Middle East and North Africa
a. The ANC is opposed to the escalation in the use of force by governments against peaceful demonstrations particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.
b. The ANC condemns the selective treatment of these developments by the international community, the media, NGOs and military alliances like NATO.
c. The ANC undertakes to develop a strategy for engaging motive forces in this region.
32. Sri Lanka
a. The ANC will be steadfast in ensuring its role serves to enhance global support for a political process which is characterised by integrity, fairness and empathy for the efforts Sri Lanka is engaged in to create lasting peace.
b. The ANC supports the fundamental approach of ensuring the creation of an environment conducive for fair and equitable participation of all credible representatives in genuine negotiations towards a lasting political solution in Sri Lanka, including the question of Tamil minority.
PILLAR 2: CONTINENTAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
33. Western Sahara
a. The ANC re-affirms its solidarity with the Frente Polisario/Polisario Front and the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence.
b. The ANC condemns Morocco's pullout of the UN-led peace process and calls on the UN to urge parties back to the negotiating table.
c. The ANC will engage with allies of Morocco to persuade them to pressurise Morocco to implement UN Resolutions on Western Sahara.
d. The ANC calls on the UN to amend the mandate of the MINURSO in order to include provisions on human rights monitoring including the exploitation of natural resources in the occupied territories.
e. The ANC calls upon the African Union and progressive forces in the world to support the Frente Polisario/Polisario Front-led struggle and give diplomatic recognition and developmental support to Saharawi refugees.
f. The ANC should mobilise the international community to pressurise Morocco to immediately lift the military, security and media blackout imposed in the occupied territories of Western Sahara g. The ANC supports the existence of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and encourages its recognition by other African and other countries.
34. Cuban solidarity and the release of the Cuban Five Campaign:
a. The ANC continues to support the campaign for the Release of the Cuban Five that is profiled and re-iterated in its commitment to the cause of the Cuban people.
b. The ANC calls on the international community to remove the economic embargo against Cuba as per UN resolutions.
c. The ANC calls on the South African Parliament to pass a resolution calling for the release of the Cuban Five (5).
d. The ANC is to increase the trade between South Africa and Cuba to reinforce our foreign policy position on our solidarity with Cuba.
35. Palestine:
a. The ANC re-affirms the resolution of its 52nd National Conference in Polokwane on the on Palestinian question.
b. The ANC supports the application of Palestine for statehood and full membership to the UN and, therefore, supports the UN General Assembly Resolution granting Palestine a nonmember observer state as an important step towards that goal.
c. The ANC is unequivocal in its support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination, and unapologetic in its view that the Palestinians are the victims and the oppressed in the conflict with Israel.
d. The ANC will continue its solidarity efforts supporting a just solution including the strengthening of a sovereign independent state of Palestine, which will help to bring peace to the region and end conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
e. The ANC calls on the Israeli government to release all political prisoners, to immediately cease the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and to stop the wanton and consistent attacks on Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
f. The ANC calls on all organisations in support of the people of Palestine to form a united solidarity campaign in a view of strengthening the South African solidarity forum.
g. The ANC calls on all South Africans to support the programmes and campaigns of the Palestinian civil society which seek to put pressure on Israel to engage with the Palestinian people to reach a just solution.
h. The ANC calls upon all Palestinian political formations to put aside their differences and continue to work together for unity.
i. In support of the Non-Aligned Movement's call, the ANC-led government will continue to insist on the labelling of imported goods indicating their areas of origin.
j. The ANC abhors the recent Israeli state-sponsored xenophobic attacks and deportation of people of African origin and request that this matter should be escalated to the AU.
44 PILLAR 3: PARTY-TO-PARTY, INTRA AND MULTILATERAL RELATIONS
36. Building on the resolutions of the 52nd national conference, the ANC reaffirms its commitment to participation in international organisations.
37. ANC participation in international organisations:
a. The ANC needs to urgently develop a clear policy on international participation to ensure that proper international protocols and conduct is followed by comrades in all spheres of government and in the ANC when conducting their international work.
b. The ANC needs to strengthen its affiliation with like-minded international organisations and participate actively in them, including strengthening our proactive participation in structures like the Socialist International, Sao Paulo Forum, and Non-Aligned Movement, etc.
38. Party-to-Party Relations:
a. The ANC will increase interaction with former liberation movements and other progressive-minded political parties of commitment towards strengthening relations.
b. The ANC will develop clear guidelines for existing relationships and new party-to-party relations informed by the ANC's values.
c. The party-to-party relations of the ANC will go beyond Africa including relations with the progressive forces across the world to take forward our national and continental endeavours.
39. Building a global progressive movement International solidarity conference:
a. The ANC is pleased with the successful hosting of the third ANC's International Solidarity Conference (ISC) held in 2012 under the theme, "United for a Progressive, Better World." b. The ANC welcomes the ISC resolutions and therefore commits to set up the ISC's steering committee responsible for the follow-up and implementation of the ISC resolutions.
PILLAR 4: TRANSFORMATION AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
40. United Nations:
a. The ANC is committed to the reform of the UNSC to make it more democratic, accountable and representative.
b. The ANC continues to advocate for expansion of the UNSC in both permanent and non-permanent categories and improving its working methods and supports the demand for two permanent seats for Africa.
c. The ANC encourages the AU to reinvigorate discussions and seminars on the reform of the UN, particularly the Security Council towards a renewed consensus.
41. IMF and World Bank:
a. The ANC continues to call for the reform of the IMF and World Bank to reflect principles of equity and fairness.
b. The ANC will partner with international organisations and alternative think tanks in this transformation endeavours.
c. The ANC will call on the SA government to utilise platforms like the G20 to lobby for transformation.
d. The ANC encourages the formation of alternatives like the Latin American Countries have begun in the formation of Banco Sur (Bank of the South).
42. The International Criminal Court:
a. As much as the ANC does not condone impunity, authoritarian and violent regimes, it is concerned about the perception of selective prosecution of Africans and urges the ICC to also pursue cases of impunity elsewhere, while engaging in serious dialogue with the AU and African countries in order to review their relationship.
b. The ANC calls on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which has referred some African cases to the ICC, to recognise the work done by the AU, its RECs and 45 individual African countries to promote the peaceful end to and settlement of conflicts on the continent, the peace agreements signed and commitments made in regard to post-conflict justice.
43. G20:
a. South Africa continues to play a role in the G20, which has eclipsed the G8 configuration of developed countries as premier platform for international cooperation.
b. South Africa will continue to bring to the fore the importance of development outcomes of discussion within the G20 by developed countries, particularly those within the G8.
c. South Africa will ensure that the G20 discussions are focused on stabilising the world economy by building global partnerships to eradicate global poverty and realise a more equitable global economic system.
PILLAR 5: POLICY DEVELOPMENT
44. Foreign Policy Review:
a. As the SA foreign policy edges towards 20 years, the ANC decides to undertake its review including:
i. the appraisal of its relationship with South Africa's national interest,
ii. the effect of membership in international organisations, the quality of the foreign service,
iii. the impact of international migration,
iv. the coordination of para diplomacy,
v. the state of bilateral relations and strengthening of Africa and southern Africa.
vi. In line with the National Democratic Revolution, the national interest should not lead to sub-imperialism and dominance but should take on board the conditions and interests of countries South Africa relates with.
b. The ANC resolves that the foreign policy of the ANC-led government should incorporate the challenges of human trafficking and migration, and worker rights as part of its human rights focus.
c. Linked to this, the ANC resolves to undertake a review of its international relations and solidarity work since 1994 including how it has been given effect through the foreign policy of the ANCled government.
45. Parliamentary Diplomacy:
a. The ANC will assist in equipping Parliamentarians deployed in global forums like the Inter-Parliamentary Union, SADC Parliamentary Forum, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and others to promote South Africa's foreign policy objectives.
b. The ANC will ensure adequate public education in both urban and rural areas on South African Foreign Policy including issues such positions taken in multilateral bodies like the United Nations (UN).
c. The ANC will continue to strengthen the IBSA Parliamentary Forum and efforts towards the establishment of a BRICS Parliamentary Forum.
46. Business Code of Conduct:
a. The ANC reiterates the resolution of the 52nd National Conference on the need for a Business Code of Conduct to regulate South African companies doing business in Africa in order to ensure that their conduct accords with South African business norms and standards such as upholding good business practice, labour standards, and ethical conduct.
b. The Code of Conduct should, however, should not inhibit the comparative advantage of South African companies and organisations in the business environment .
c. The ANC will work with COSATU to promote the ethos of good labour practice in the business environment.
4647. Economic Diplomacy:
a. Economic diplomacy reinforces our vision of a better Africa and better world as well as the achievement of national development objectives, believing that there can be no peace without development nor development without peace.
b. South Africa's economic diplomacy should serve as a tool of foreign policy including the utilisation of state-ownedenterprises in development projects on the African continent.
48. Xenophobia:
a. The ANC should develop a position paper on international migration, immigration and xenophobia as contained in the 52nd Conference resolution, which should discussed provincial levels before finalisation.
b. The ANC recognises the rights of international migrants as a vulnerable group of persons and the responsibilities that they have towards their host country.
c. The ANC should increase awareness of South Africans about the causes and dangers of xenophobia as well as the role foreign nationals play in the country's economy and national life using dialogue, the media and other engagement modalities.
d. The ANC will join COSATU in educating foreign nationals, especially those from the African continent, on their labour rights, particularly the minimum wage.
49. SADPA:
a. The ANC encourages government to accelerate the establishment of the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA) to assist the ANC and government in pursuit of its vision of a better Africa through African solidarity and mutual assistance as well as partnership with other development actors.
50. National Development Plan and Vision 2030
Noting that:
a. ANC-led government has developed the National Development Plan as the overarching framework to guide and accelerate the development of South Africa to 2030 and beyond.
b. The NDP links national development to active international relations and cooperation.
c. But the NDP was adopted without the benefit of drawing from a White Paper on International Relations, which led to a limited perspective on international relations.
The ANC, therefore, resolves that:
a. NDP's content on international relations strengthened.
b. The ANC's foreign policy objectives, particularly on the renewal of Africa, should be reflected in the NDP.
c. More emphasis be placed on the need to change the political economy of Africa that still reflects the legacy of colonialism and neo-colonisation, particularly with respect to mineral and natural resources of Africa.
d. The global economic recession as depicted in the NDP should be seen as an opportunity for Africa's development and unity and for building an alternative continental and global economic system.
51. Climate Change:
Noting that:
a. Global climate patterns are changing with evidence also in South Africa's changing weather patterns.
b. There is a marginal debate on whether there is climate change or not, rather than whether the climate is changing because of humankind or because as a natural phenomenon.
c. Climate change technologies, systems and skills are likely to be imported from the developed world.
The ANC, therefore, resolves that:
a. The adoption of adaptive technology to address the problem of carbon emissions should not be driven by the appetite for markets on the part of developed countries for the market to supply new green techonology, equipment and skills at the detriment of home grown responses that are cost effective and build the country's skill base.
b. The ANC will investigate the science of the debate about the causes of climate change in order to better understand how South Africa could be inventive in response.
c. There must be a focus on indigenous skills and technology that promote energy efficiency.
PILLAR 6: CAMPAIGNS
52. AFRICOM:
a. The ANC reaffirms its position that African states should be resolute in their stance against United State's AFRICOM presence in Africa under the guise of "War on Terror", while actually militarising the continent.
b. The ANC recognises that the AFRICOM is more than just the building of American bases on the African continent, but it includes more subtle programmes involving the US and NATO military in military training of African militaries, the funding of NGOs for anti-African agendas and increasingly the introduction of drones under the guise of technological assistance in conflict areas.
c. The ANC respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of fellow African countries, and calls on the US and military organisations like NATO to do the same.
53. Africa Day:
a. As part of popularisation of Africa's renaissance and the African Union, the ANC resolves to mandate its structures and government and the broader South African public to promote the Africa Day.
b. The ANC calls for the routine adoption of African Union symbols including the flag and the singing of its anthem in South Africa's part of our commitment to the African continent and the recognition of our African Heritage.
54. Mandela Day:
a. Increase the role of the ANC, particularly ANC branches, in co-ordinating events on Mandela Day, which should not be dependent on government sponsorship and coordination.
b. The ANC will promote Mandela Day across the continent and the world, understanding that Mandela is a symbol of ANC's commitment to a humane and caring society through the promotion of human rights, solidarity, peace and unity.
CAPACITY BUILDING AND COORDINATION
55. Capacity and work of the International Relations Department:
a. The ANC resolves to develop the International Relations Department into a fully-fledged department with adequate staffing and a full-time political head, so as to ensure it works effectively on all 6 (six) pillars of International work.
b. All ANC provincial structures that have not established International Relations Sub-committees are encouraged to do so with the assistance of the NEC Sub-committee. Furthermore, IR desks should also established at regional and zone levels and where possible, at branch level.
c. The resolves that the IR Sub- Committee should convene regular information workshops/seminars on IR policy in each province, while find ways to communicate more effectively with the various ANC structures on IR issues.
d. In consultation with provinces, IR practitioners should be identified, who can serve as volunteers in the ANC's international work.
e. Retired ANC diplomats and international organisation deployees must be utilised by the ANC to build the capacity in IR in provinces and regions.
48 f. The relationship with fraternal organisations and individuals who constituted part of the anti-apartheid movement internationally should be revived so that they are engaged to express the ANC's perspective and activities in various areas of the world and assist in enriching the ANC understanding's and perspectives on broader international matters and country specific dynamics. For example, the anti-apartheid movement in Austria assisted in ensuring that the remains of Klaas and Tvoyi Pienaar were returned back to South Africa.
g. Protocol training should be provided in all ANC structures, amongst deployees and within Alliance structures to ensure that comrades conduct themselves appropriately when embarking on ANC international relations work.
h. The IR Sub-Committee must take on the responsibility to communicate and popularise ANC international policies, especially in the absence of a progressive mass media.
i. The ANC calls on the SABC to invest in the coverage of African news and developments including through the reestablishment of SABC Africa.
j. The ANC will open an International Relations Office in the City of Tshwane for engagement with the large diplomatic community found in the city.
56. Key capacity building tasks for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation:
a. The ANC-government needs to publicise the national guidelines for the coordination of international relations work in all spheres of government, which was adopted by Cabinet.
Government officials at all levels should adhere to these guidelines.
b. The ANC-government will explore the possibilities of using their expertise and facilities of their Diplomatic Academy to provide international relations training to South Africans outside of the government.
c. The ANC-government will investigate the regularisation of international twinning agreements of provinces and cities.
d. The ANC-government needs to assist relevant government departments to strengthen our infrastructure development capacity and capabilities to monitor our economic maritime zone referred to as sea borders.
57. Alliance programme on international relations:
a. A combined programme on IR involving Alliance partners should be developed and it should incorporate issues of:
■ Climate change, trade, foreign direct investment, industrialisation of Africa and transformation of multi-lateral institutions and global governance; and ■ Solidarity campaigns on Cuba, Western Sahara, Palestine and Swaziland, with a special discussion on our position on Swaziland.
b. The Alliance should convene an International Forum to strategise and plan joint campaigns.
c. The Alliance should share critical information on international relations as the information arises.
d. The Alliance should hold an annual meeting to assess the events of the year, and plan for the next year.
e. The ANC will lead in the establishment of an International Solidarity Forum to ensure that all campaigns fall under one umbrella and enable the alliance to manage the solidarity efforts.
f. In addition to business delegations, other non-state sectors should be considered for inclusion in planning international visits.
58. ANC participation in international organisations:
a. The ANC will urgently develop a clear policy on international participation to ensure that proper international protocols and conduct are followed by comrades in 49 spheres of government and in the ANC when conducting their international work.
b. The ANC will strengthen its affiliation with and active participation in like-minded international organisations, including structures like the Socialist International, the Sao Paulo Forum, the Non-Aligned Movement and so forth.
Source: African National Congress. The full and original text of the resolutions can be accessed here - PDF.
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
