Former anti apartheid activist opens South African embassy

THE first embassy of South Africa in Ireland was officially opened in Dublin yesterday by Prof Kader Asmal.

Dr Asmal, Minister for Water Affairs and Forestry with the South African government, is a former Trinity College professor, African National Congress exile and founder member of the Irish Anti Apartheid Movement (IAAM).

The opening was attended by TDs and senators, former members of the IAAM who are now members of the Ireland South Africa Association, trade groups and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Among the Oireachtas members present were TDs: Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, Mr Pat Gallagher, Mr Michael Ferris, Mr Tom Kitt, and Senators Feargal Quinn, Michael Lanigan and David Norris.

From the Ireland South Africa Association were: Mr Gearoid Kilgallen, Mr Rafique Mottiar and Mr Tony Ffrench.

The opening was attended also by Mr Richard Fallon, of the Africa section of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Ade Kunde of the African Cultural Project.

South Africa's first ambassador to Ireland is Mr Pierre Dietrichsen, a career diplomat who has served in Argentina, Japan and Peru. He is a former ambassador to Switzerland.

The new embassy is situated in Alexander House, Earlsfort Terrace.

Diplomatic relations with South Africa were established in October 1993 and an Irish embassy was opened there the following year.

The President, Mrs Robinson, made an official visit to South Africa last March.

Performing the official ceremony, Dr Asmal said: "It makes me feel very emotional to see my country's flag fluttering so bravely over my country's first ever embassy in the land that sustained me in my exile for so long, and which gave so generously and so warmly to the struggle against apartheid."

Dr Asmal spent most of his 30 years in exile in Ireland. He was accompanied at yesterday's ceremony by his wife, Louise.

At a press conference, Dr Asmal said the Irish EU Presidency must ensure that the period of introspection which the community was going through must not be at the cost of the "increased pauperisation" of Africa.