The referendum in South Africa

The European Parliament,

A. determined to do all in its power to assist the

transformation of South Africa into a multi-party, non-

racial democracy,

B. recognizing and saluting the efforts of President De Klerk

and Nelson Mandela in the constructive process of

negotiating a new constitution,

C. welcoming the announcement of the agreement reached in the

framework of CODESA for the establishment of an interim

Government before the end of 1992, to include

representatives of the non-white population,

D. having regard to President De Klerk's insistence that the

referendum among the white electorate which the South

African Government has called for 17 March 1992 is not an

attempt to veto constitutional progress, but rather to

reaffirm the Government's commitment to replacing the old

system,

1. Calls on the white electorate of South Africa to show by

their votes on 17 March that they wish their country to

play its full part in the growing international community

of democratic nations;

2. Reaffirms the terms of its resolution on South Africa of 13

February 1992 and stresses that a positive vote on 17

March will open the possibility of the rapid removal of all

further restrictions, other than the arms embargo, on

normal relations between the EC, its Member States and

South Africa;

3. Congratulates the participants in CODESA on the progress

they have already made and hopes that the Conservative

party and the Pan-African Congress will not continue to

exclude themselves from taking part;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the

Commission, the Council, the Foreign Ministers meeting in

EPC, the South African Government, the Head of

Administration of CODESA and the leaders of the National,

Conservative and Democratic parties in the House of

Assembly and the President of the Pan-African Congress.