Text adopted on 9.4.92

The European Parliament,

A. welcoming the positive result of the referendum on South Africa held on 17 March 1992 in which the white population endorsed President de Klerk's policy of democratization,

B. having regard to the decision of the Council to lift remaining sanctions against South Africa relating to oil sales but not those relating to sales of arms and nuclear cooperation,

C. regretting that this decision was taken without consulting the European Parliament,

D. aware of the difficulties of implementing in South Africa a policy of reform which is fiercely opposed by radical groups,

E. recalling its previous resolutions on this subject,

1. Welcomes the progress made by South Africa towards a non-racial and pluralist democracy;

2. Considers however that South Africa will remain an undemocratic country until the universally recognized principle of 'one man, one vote' is applied and for as long as the rights of the black population are flouted, in particular by their almost total exclusion from political and economic power;

3. Considers that considerable efforts will be needed to remedy the persistent social and economic imbalances in South Africa in the fields of health, education and housing, and that the international community should participate in these efforts;

4. Calls on the Council once more to refrain from taking any further initiative with regard to South Africa before knowing the results of the CODESA deliberations;

5. Reiterates its demand that it be consulted on any Community initiative on South Africa;

6. Reaffirms its determination to give all possible support to the process of democratization currently under way in South Africa, including the removal of remaining sanctions once the final obstacles to equitable political and economic participation by the black population have been removed, and reiterates its call for the release of political prisoners;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of South Africa and CODESA.