EC mission and Nelson Mandela
Collins criticised the EC representatives’ inability to meet Mandela and asked whether Barry agreed with their decision to continue the mission. Barry explained that they decided on the spot, seeking to influence the South African Government and gather information, and said he would have acted similarly.
Does the Minister agree that it is deplorable that two of his EC colleagues, proceeding with their fact-finding mission in South Africa, were refused permission to meet the imprisoned Nelson Mandela?
Comment on this
Three representatives went down in early September. When they arrived they had not decided whether to go ahead with their trip or not because conditions were imposed on them some of which they could meet but some of which they could not. I do not argue with the decision made by them on the spot. Their main purpose while there was to seek to influence the South African Government and to gather whatever information they could. They went there as representatives of the 12 member states. They made a decision on the spot and I do not suggest they could have made a different decision.