ATLANTA. June 5: Arch bishop Desmond Tutu called on the West Saturday to shore up South Africa s transition to democracy with financial support akin to that afforded to Russia and Israel, reports Reuter

In a powerfully worded speech at a US-sponsored investment conference here. Tutu espoused-the advantages of South Africa s huge eco nomic Infrastructure and toid delegates that the government of Nelson Mandela is set on fostering a post-apartheld na Uonal reconciliation

T was sometimes called Mr Sanctions, the man most white South Africans loved to hate Now. I want to be — please allow me to become — Mr In-

vestment. the Archbishop of Cape Town said

The west provided a pack age lor Russia and said this is important so thai democracy succeeds there How about making South Africa some thing like Israel?’

Tutu said South Africa s first multi-racial elections in April removed a huge burden-of guilt from whites while restoring to blacks a dignity which for so long had been trampled under foot

Since then, he said the country s Minister of Justice has begun drawing up laws to forgive those guilty of commit •ting political atrocities under apartheid

There is a chance for a spectacular success story out

of that Africa you have said is the dark continent, which has got some tremendous things, beautiful things.; Tutu contin ueri

Apartheid Is awful But even with apartheid we have a fairly sophisticated economy We do have an Infrastructure that you do not find easily in places were you are making a transition from repression to democracy Our telephone, in fart, do work "

T am calling on you come. coate. come, you helped this thing to happen It must succeed It must succeed for the sake of democracy —not Just in South Africa. It must succeed for 1 he sake of democracy everywhere "