Of all the peace processes around the world ushered in by the end of the Cold War, that in South Africa has been the most far-reaching, the most successful and the one from which others have most to learn. Conflicts that appear intractable change with the circumstances that gave rise to them. It is worth examining how that country managed the transition from apartheid to democracy, and its progress over the three years since the 1994 elections which ushered in its government of national unity, to see what lessons should be drawn from it by others facing into negotiations to resolve such conflicts, including that in Northern Ireland. It is certainly not necessary to force the comparison between what are in fact two very different processes, but rather to keep an open mind on the subject.
Remarks last night in Belfast by Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert, a distinguished South African political player and analyst, put the issues in a nutshell. "So how did we manage in South Africa?", he asked, going on to explain: "We had the right leaders at the right time, who understood a problem in the same way, under conducive circumstances. And, we were lucky". He added that "I wish you find yours (luck) sooner rather than later". He emphasised how important it was that Mr Nelson Mandela and Mr F.W. de Klerk were willing to give leadership by taking risks ahead of their supporters and parties. They both realised there was no real alternative to negotiation and compromise, given the impasse in their conflict. They recognised that the end of the Cold War altered both of their circumstances. As for luck, it is just as necessary in politics as in war.
In a message to readers of this newspaper today, in the International Report on South Africa, President Mandela wishes the Northern Ireland peace talks well. His own role as a political leader, symbol and practitioner of reconciliation has been recognised the world over when his government set about transforming the country, tackling the dreadful inequalities bequeathed by apartheid and harnessing economic growth in the interests of employment and human development. Immense progress has been made in delivering education, health services, physical infrastructure, water supply and housing. Political lessons are being learned day by day as bureaucratic inertia, inefficiencies and corruption inhibit the pace of change. This is part and parcel of the process of transition. It is accompanied by a vibrant democratic culture in an open and experimental fashion that in many respects has put South Africa ahead of the rest of the developing and the developed worlds - which, indeed, exist side by side so graphically within its own boundaries.
Mr Mandela's appeal for economic engagement with his country should fall on receptive ears in Ireland. The trade and investment picture so far has been strongly in Ireland's favour; over the medium to longer term, there should be ample opportunity to develop links to mutual advantage by tapping in to the southern African region as a whole, with its potentially vibrant market of over 100 million people. Mr Mandela's government has put great store by encouraging a turnaround in his continent's fortunes, if necessary - as he demonstrated by his visit yesterday to Libya - by risking western disapproval. Success in that venture can only justify Ireland's own concentration of diplomatic and development resources there by laying the basis for a longer-term reciprocal relationship.