Centre, Amphitheatre, Union Buildings, Tshwane
4 April 2006
Remarks by Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, outcomes of President Mahmoud Abbas's
visit to South Africa,
South Africa successfully hosted President of the Palestinian Authority
Mahmoud Abbas on a State visit last week. The visit came at a very opportune
time; there have been elections in both Israel and Palestine. Let me begin by
saying that we must congratulate the people of Israel and Palestine for their
participation in these elections. The elections have been declared free and
fair there has been no challenge to the legitimacy and transparency of these
elections.
President Abbas had en-route to South Africa attended the Arab League Summit
in Sudan. The Summit looked at issues of Sudan, the Middle East, etc. We
received a briefing from President Abbas regarding the Summit.
Let me make South Africa's position with regard to the Middle East very
clear - we operate within the framework of a commitment to help the people of
Israel and Palestine find a peaceful solution based on the Oslo Agreement,
there must be a viable State Palestine with an independent State of Israel
living side by side within secure borders. In this regard South Africa has
attempted to share with the people of Palestine and Israel our experiences of
our transition to democracy and nation building. We have the Presidential Spier
initiative within this context. This initiative is led by President Mbeki where
he together with current and former apartheid regime Ministers and security
heads meet with both the Palestinians and Israelis to share our experiences.
The South African government is under no illusion of trying to formulate
another peace plan. There are the Olso agreements, the Arab League plan of 2002
and the roadmap.
The elections in Israel and Palestine have introduced fundamentally new
conditions in the region and opens up prospects for a peaceful solution based
on these various agreements and United Nations (UN) resolutions.
In Palestine, now that Hamas has won the legislative elections, we have a
situation where the United States (US) and European Union (EU) have stopped
their aid recognition of Hamas refused and Israel has also withheld US$50
million Palestinian money payable in terms of a customs agreement. We have two
schools of thought, one where collective punishment is being enforced another
where recognition is given to Hamas having won the elections decisively, freely
and fairly. This school of thought proposes that the will of the Palestinian
people be accepted and that we work with Hamas.
We who promote democracy cannot challenge the consequences of democratic
processes. In our own view there should be no collective punishment against the
Palestinian people. In addition, now that Hamas has been given the
responsibility by the Palestinian people they must recognise that this mandate
has been bestowed in terms of the Oslo agreement. So Hamas must also accept all
other responsibilities in terms of the Oslo agreement and fulfil them. The
Palestinian people voted for a Palestinian State, peace and improvements in the
quality of their lives. Hamas must deliver on this.
As we all know the conditions in the Palestinian territories are appalling
such conditions will only give rise to greater tensions and resentment.
With regard to the Israeli elections a new dynamic has also arisen in Israel
with Kadima having won the majority of the seats. For the first time in a long
time there is the opportunity for a coalition government that does not depend
on the will of ultra right religious groups.
However, both sides the Israelis and Palestinians must move forward
decisively both peoples have indicated their desire for peace and security.
The Arab Summit has also taken some key decisions that both sides must
return to the roadmap that collective punishment not be imposed on the peoples
of Palestine and that the Arab Plan of 2002 and Roadmap be implemented.
We are working on an appropriate date for President Mbeki to visit the
Middle East region.
As you know Hamas has not succeeded in establishing a coalition government;
the Israeli government has yet to be formed.
So indeed at this stage in the region we have opportunities and dangers.
We will continue to interact with both sides in order to create the
conditions for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Visit to South Africa by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete will pay a working visit to South Africa
on Friday, 7 April 2006, during which he will hold discussions with President
Mbeki.
This is part of his regional visit to South African Development Community
(SADC) countries.
We welcome the visit since Tanzania plays a major role in SADC, East Africa
and the African Union (AU). Tanzania is fast becoming one of Africa's success
stories.
Tanzania is also very active in the great lakes region and we will fully
support their initiatives to get the Paliphutu-Forces for National Liberation
(Paliphutu-FNL) to join the process. This visit will also present us with an
opportunity to review the challenges in the region and how we can alleviate
them to ensure movement towards peace and stability.
South African relations with Tanzanian are governed through two fora, the
Bi-national Commission headed by Foreign Affairs and consisting of other
departments and the most importantly the Presidential Economic Commission
headed by the respective Presidents.
Trade and investment between South Africa and Tanzania has grown
phenomenally.
Trade/Investment/Economic cooperation
Year - SA Exports (R' 000) - SA Imports (R'000)
1997 - 901,499; 19,999
1998 - 1,035,122; 26,755
1999 - 1,049,032; 25,814
2000 - 1,326,833; 24,678
2001 - 1,526,816; 38,255
2002 - 2,016,760; 95,422
2003 - 1,887,931; 136,671
2004 - 2,268,560; 206,759
(Source DTI, 2005)
South Africa ranks fourth on the list of foreign investors and accounts for
10 percent of the total investment in Tanzania.
One hundred South African companies are economically active in Tanzania,
which is rated as a premier investment destination for South African business
people. South African exports to Tanzania are predominantly in the spheres of
manufacturing i.e., machinery, mechanical appliances, paper, rubber products,
vehicles, iron and steel and services and technology.
It is clear that Tanzania is a very important partner for South Africa both
politically and economically.
Sudanese Special Envoy to meet President Mbeki
President Mbeki will later today meet with a Special Envoy from Sudan Great
Lakes Region
We are very happy with the progress in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) as you know South Africa has played a major role in the country not only
in terms of troop deployment but also in terms of post conflict reconstruction
and development.
Elections are due in June 2006; the government has requested additional
assistance from South Africa to help facilitate the elections Côte d'Ivoire
We are very pleased with the progress in Côte d'Ivoire all parties are now
earnestly preparing for elections to be held later this year.
We are confident we will be able to meet the mid April target for the
identification and registration processes.
Although the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process is
now underway we are concerned that this process has not been fully implemented
from the time of Lineas-Marcoussis. We now believe that the process can move
forward quite decisively.
We have also seen substantial movement in Côte d'Ivoire since the
appointment of Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny.
The international working group on Côte d'Ivoire meets once a month and
there has been agreement that there has been much movement recently.
South Africa will, however, remain seized with the matter.
Questions and answers
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, could you please clarify the process
referred to Côte d'Ivoire to be finalised by mid April?
Answer: We fully expect the processes of registration and identification
will have begun by mid April. It is the intention of President Gbagbo that both
these processes should be synchronised and a special commission has been
established to this effect.
Question: Deputy Minister, what the African Union's (AU) and South Africa's
position of the matter of former President Charles Taylor?
Answer: We are not in possession of any further facts in this regard;
however, this is the first time that an African Head of State who moved into
exile in order to allow the processes in his country to move forward has been
brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
However, Nigeria had always maintained that they would hand over former
President Taylor to the ICC once a democratic government had been established
in Liberia and a request made.
President Mbeki has been in touch with Nigerian President Olusegan Obasanjo
in order to discuss the matter but we have no further information.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, with regard to the matter of former Haitian
President Jean Bertrand Aristide, I got the sense a month ago that things were
moving quite speedily for his return to Haiti but now it seems that matters
have slowed down. Is this because of pressure from the United States (US) and
France do they believe it is not in Haiti's interest that he return at this
time?
Answer: I am not in any position to speculate on what the French and US
governments are thinking on this matter.
Minister Dlamini Zuma yesterday made it very clear that South Africa is
hosting President Aristide following requests from Caricom and the AU; he is
not in exile in South Africa.
President Aristide's return to Haiti must be negotiated with President
Preval and Caricom.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad, did President Abbas request financial
assistance from the South African government during his visit?
Answer: The Palestinians have requested assistance from South Africa in
various forms; however, they fully understand that South Africa does not have
massive amounts of money to contribute in aid. We can provide some assistance
but not in the way the developed countries could.
In addition, South Africa contributes massively to solving African
challenges and addressing challenges in our own country.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad will Hamas still visit South Africa?
Answer: Hamas announced in Gaza ahead of their visit to Russia that they
would like to visit South Africa. We responded by saying we would meet them as
the national authority.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad when will President Mbeki visit the Middle
East?
Answer: President Mbeki will visit the Middle East once the Palestinian
national authority is functioning and the government of Israel has been
finalised. This will be working visit since working visits allow for serious
discussions in a short period of time. I would assume he would visit both
Palestine and Israel.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad can you comment on the international
conference on Palestine to be hosted by Iran on 14 April 2006?
Answer: I will need to ascertain further information on this matter. This is
however an annual conference. I would assume that the South African
parliamentary delegation will be a multi party delegation but I will need to
follow this up.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad what is your feeling on the situation in
Burundi, is the South African government still optimistic. There are
conflicting positions from analysts?
Answer: The South African government remains optimistic about the situation
in Burundi. Analysts were also very pessimistic about the situation in the DRC
and Côte d'Ivoire a while ago yet today we have made substantial progress in
resolving these crises.
We believe the international community must now move decisively to assist
these countries in terms of post conflict reconstruction and development. South
Africa is thinking of withdrawing the troops deployed to Burundi to protect
leaders in exile.
The South African Cabinet last week decided to deploy 300 troops to Comoros
ahead of their elections while extending the mandate of the troops in Burundi
and the DRC.
Question: Deputy Minister Pahad what has been the decisive factor in
creating movement in Côte d'Ivoire?
Answer: Firstly the Peace and Security Council decision on extending the
life of the Presidency after the date on which elections should have been held
passed. The new Prime Minister has the power to exercise much authority in term
of the Lineas Marcoussis agreement to implement the various existing
agreements.
The Security Council endorsed the African position while maintaining that
sanctions will be imposed on anyone thought to be impeding the process. We are
also working collectively with other role players including the French to
ensure synergies in the way in which we proceed on this matter. Forces
Nouvelles have also realised they would need to address the way in which they
proceed and have now joined the governmental processes. Outtara and Bedie have
returned to Côte d'Ivoire.
The decision not to close down the National Assembly but rather to revise
the mandate, all these developments have made it clear to all Ivorians that
they must follow and implement processes outlined in the Lineas Marcoussis,
Accra and Pretoria agreements.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
4 April 2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)
