South Africa: Ruling ANC, New National Party agree to strengthen cooperation.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Text of joint declaration between South Africa's ruling African National Congress party and the New National Party on 5 June 2004 issued by the African National Congress on published by South African news agency SAPA web site

Whereas:

The African National Congress (ANC), formed in 1912, and the New National Party (NNP), formed in 1914, were on opposing sides of a protracted struggle to ensure equal rights, dignity and opportunities for all South Africans;

The democratic breakthrough of 1994 was a pivotal moment in the resolution of this struggle, enabling the establishment of a constitutional democracy and agreement on a just, equitable, inclusive and lasting settlement;

During the course of the first decade of freedom, peace and democracy has taken firm root in our country. Progress has been made towards the …