Press comments by N Dlamini Zuma and Flemish Minister G Bourgeois on
meeting

8 October 2007

Welcome remarks

We are very happy and very grateful that Minister Bourgeois and his
delegation were able to visit us in South Africa. We have had very good
co-operation with Flanders not only at the level of Foreign Affairs but also
while I was at the Department of Health. There has been a long period of
co-operation between South Africa and Flanders.

Our co-operation varies from social, small, medium and micro enterprises
(SMME) development, youth, women, and training issues. This is therefore a very
broad co-operation which ranges throughout South Africa not just in one
province KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Free State.

We also have co-operation through the Progressive Woman's Movement which is
an international woman's movement. We are very pleased with our co-operation
with Flanders. We have also discussed issues of African integration viz the
integration of the region and beyond to Africa. Within this we looked at areas
of co-operation. Flanders has a lot of experience in Belgium and within the
European Union. We have had very fruitful discussions. Minister Bourgeois will
brief you further. Minister Bourgeois has also invited us to visit Flanders in
2008.

Minister Bourgeois

Thank you Minister Dlamini Zuma. First of all, I want to thank you for the
invitation, hospitality and welcome that was accorded to me and my delegation.
I had an interesting meeting with the Premier of Cape Town which was very
interesting. I am very happy that you have accepted my invitation to visit
Flanders next year. This will be an opportunity to show you our beautiful
Flanders which is very different to Brussels which you visit quite often. We
have lots of co-operation between South Africa and Flanders we have development
co-operation and about 30 projects costing approximately €35 million.

We have, in our deliberations had very interesting discussions on our future
co-operation. We have bilateral co-operation in a variety of areas bilateral
trade and economic co-operation, political co-operation, tourism development.
There is also the interesting possibility of trilateral co-operation. The
Minister briefed us on the African regional and continental regional processes
and the opportunity exists for us to co-operate in this regard.

There is also a very interesting project indeed regarding the progressive
woman's movement. We will also work together with regard to South Africa's
hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in terms of small and medium size
enterprise development. Our society is built on these enterprises. These are
areas of co-operation we can investigate.

We also briefed the South African delegation on the Flanders peace project
to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the end of World War I in 2018.
South Africa was also involved in this war. In a little part of Flanders we
have 1 300 relics of this terrible war. We are inviting all countries from all
over the world to participate in this project of remembrance. I think that
integration is an answer to war and we welcome Africa's efforts to achieve this
integration. It was a very interesting meeting.

Questions and answers

Question: Minister Bourgeois, your country is quite prominent in the news
regarding the political challenges you are facing. Are you taking away from
South Africa any lessons that will assist you in dealing with these
tribulations?

Answer: (Minister Bourgeois) This is something we can appreciate in South
Africa. We also favour dialogue in our country discussions are very peaceful
and democratic. Although there is much news about it, they are normal
discussions.

It is very good to learn about what South Africa is doing every day. In my
discussions with Premier Rasool, I learnt of the South African philosophy of
South Africa being a home for all. We in Europe are also learning to develop
this common identity. I assure you that everything is very peaceful in my
country.

Question: Minister Bourgeois, still on the same subject: I would like to
know where the discussions stand. What is happening at the moment?

Answer: (Minister Bourgeois) There are processes in my country, region and
the European Union. In the meantime you have autonomy for the regions. Flanders
wants more autonomy, more competence for the regions. This is the process that
is unfolding and around which discussions are focused. There are two partners
who cannot agree on this. That is why it is so difficult to form a new
government.

Question: Minister Dlamini Zuma, could you brief us on the condition of
Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad?

Answer: (Minister Dlamini Zuma) He is stable. The Swedish doctors are
looking after him very well. We are waiting for him to improve enough to return
to South Africa. There are South African doctors also in Sweden working with
the Swedish doctors. He is stable and improving. We wish him a very speedy
recovery.

Question: Minister Dlamini Zuma, could you brief us on preparations for the
South Africa-European Troika Ministerial meeting on Wednesday this week: what
are the issues on the agenda and the expected outcomes?

Answer: (Minister Dlamini Zuma) This is the annual meeting between South
Africa and the Troika to look at the implementation of the Trade Development
and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) with the European Union.

The only difference in 2007 is that this meeting will be hosted in South
Africa. We have always met in Brussels. We are very pleased that they have
agreed to have this meeting in South Africa. We will be looking at issues of
agriculture, trade, climate change, the Doha issues, outstanding issues in
terms of the implementation of the TDCA, and issues of common interest
including integration, developments in Africa in terms of the African Union
(AU) and relationships with the world and developments in the European
Union.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
8 October 2007