Mr Speaker, hon members of the Cabinet present here, hon members and members of the public in the gallery, South Africa is signatory to and an active participant in a high number of international forums and initiatives. This is the result of our unique diplomatic position since the peaceful transition to democracy, and also because of our unique experience with some of the most difficult challenges facing mankind today. Looking to the future and where our focus should be, I would like to highlight three areas of importance. Firstly, South Africa's continued leadership role in Africa, especially in peacekeeping and negotiation, must be strengthened. At the moment our leadership is often characterised by commitments that are not backed up by the correct capacity and skills. More than ever, the ability of the SA National Defence Force to properly fulfil the peacekeeping duties that are assigned to it requires urgent attention.
Secondly, South Africa must continue to build a global consensus on environmental treaties, recognising that the sustainable, respectful treatment of the environment is a prerequisite for human rights. Currently South Africa is particularly well placed to influence the debate, since the next round of negotiations after Copenhagen is scheduled to take place on our shores in 2011. This presents us with the opportunity to demonstrate our prowess at negotiating by securing an international consensus that will see our children inheriting a planet that is still capable of sustaining human life.
Thirdly, South Africa finds itself in a contradictory position when it comes to the issue of the arms proliferation. On the one hand we are the only nation in the world to have voluntarily dismantled all nuclear weapons programmes. Potentially, this makes us the foremost arbiters for non- nuclear proliferation.
Unfortunately, on the other hand, even after the advent of democracy, our record of trading in conventional weapons is very questionable. The proliferation of arms in the world is a direct threat to building an international culture of human rights. It is vital that South Africa clears up this contradiction in its behaviour.
In conclusion, I would like to appeal for greater consistency in favour of human rights from our representatives on the United Nations Security Council. As a democracy, it does great harm to our reputation when we are seen to be supportive of governments that abuse and violate human rights. I thank you.