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CNN Live At Daybreak

South Africa Hosts Sustainable Development Summit

Aired August 26, 2002 - 05:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki is welcoming thousands of delegates to the U.N. Earth Summit on sustainable development. It's a mouthful.
CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault has a preview of what could be a contentious summit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Proudly and loudly, South Africa opens its biggest official gathering ever. At this invitation only opening ceremony, South African President Thabo Mbeki welcomed delegates with words of challenge and hope.

PRES. THABO MBEKI, SOUTH AFRICA: Out of Johannesburg and out of Africa must emerge something new that takes the world forward away from the entrenchment of global apartheid to the realization of the goals of sustainable development. This is a moment of hope, not despair.

HUNTER-GAULT: Mbeki's welcome in sharp contrast to activists over the weekend, demanding the right to protest at the summit rather than miles away under current rules. Police fired stun grenades during this unauthorized march of about 500 before they dispersed. South African officials say they expect and welcome demonstrators, but they must obey the rules. Tight and widespread security is in effect.

Delegates get down to business Monday, as they attempt a plan of action aimed at saving the planet and rescuing its poorest people, numbering in the billions. But the agenda is both contested and incomplete, driven by divisions between the wealthy and poor nations of the world.

(on camera): A committee of official delegates has been meeting over the weekend in negotiations aimed at narrowing the divide. On Sunday, South Africa's foreign minister was cautiously optimistic.

NKOSAZANA ZUMA, SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Now everybody knows that Johannesburg is the last leg of this relay and therefore they have to conclude all the issues that need conclusion.

HUNTER-GAULT (voice-over): Many of the non-official delegates are saying the conference's chance for success has been diminished by U.S. President George W. Bush's decision not to join the more than 100 other world leaders here despite a U.S. delegation being led by Secretary of State Colin Powell. JOHN TURNER, U.S. DELEGATION: I think the United States at the world summit is coming with one of the most positive substantive packages in world history, to address poverty.

HUNTER-GAULT: The proof of that and the promise of this summit will be determined after the dancing stops and the work of the next 10 days is done.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault, CNN, Johannesburg.

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