annual consultations between South Africa and Spain, Spain
17 July 2007
The South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Aziz Pahad paid an
official visit to Spain on 17 July 2007, at the invitation of Mr Bernardino
Leon Gross, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of
Spain.
Mr Pahad and Mr Leon co-chaired the plenary session of the fourth Annual
Political Consultations between South Africa and Spain. The plenary followed
sector meetings held on 16 to 17 July 2007 that were convened to continue the
discussions on different areas and programmes for bilateral co-operation.
The meeting reaffirmed the strategic partnership between South Africa and
Spain and their shared commitment to the values of democracy and good
governance, peace and security and development on the African Continent.
The delegations comprised senior officials representing the following
Ministries: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, Environmental Affairs and
Tourism, Health, Arts and Culture, Defence and Home Affairs.
The principals expressed their satisfaction that relations between our
respective countries and people continue to grow and strengthen in all
areas.
Both sides acknowledged that these consultations are a key to foster
co-operation in different fields between both countries and to take an accurate
measure of the level of co-operation attained from one year to the other.
Both sides expressed their commitment to make especial efforts during the
next year to increase the level of fulfilment on the commitments made during
this year's annual consultations.
Since the first consultations meeting in February 2004 both countries have
held different high level meetings. For example, President Mbeki and Prime
Minister Zapatero met at the Progressive Governance Summit in Hungary in 2004;
the Director-Generals of Foreign Affairs met in Madrid in February 2006, and in
Cape Town in February 2007; the Spanish Secretary General for co-operation and
the Secretary of State for Tourism and Trade visited South Africa in June and
September 2006; and the South African Ministry of Defence visited Madrid in
April 2007.
Political relations
The parties confirmed that relations remained excellent. It was further
acknowledged that relations could benefit from further high-level visits as
difficulties in the agenda did not make possible the agreed visit of President
Mbeki to Spain during 2007. In this context, South Africa confirmed the
intention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to visit
Spain before the end of this year. Both parties agreed to work together towards
the objective of a visit of President Mbeki in the first quarter of 2008.
Both delegations exchanged views on current international developments, and
expressed its strong support for the active consolidation and promotion of the
African Agenda. The Spanish side was briefed on the latest developments with
regard to the African Union (AU) and New Partnership for Africa's Development
(Nepad) and commended on progress achieved.
The South African side presented a briefing on recent developments in the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) including the situation on
Zimbabwe. Both delegation expressed their concern on the socio-economic
situation in Zimbabwe and will continue to follow developments actively.
Spain briefed the South African delegation of the official inauguration of
Casa Africa (House of Africa) in Las Palmas by His Majesty the King Juan Carlos
in June 2007, as well as, the implementation of the Spanish Africa Plan. In
pursuit of the United Nations target of 0,7 percent of developed countries'
countries Gross National Product (GNP) for development aid, Spain has
undertaken to attain a level of ODA equivalent to 0,5 percent of Spain's GNP by
2008, as proofs of its commitment to the African continent. South Africa is the
key reference in the Spanish Africa Plan.
The Spanish side informed of the prominent role that the program of Casa
Africa will devote to South Africa. It was suggested that the Casa Africa
should organise special events dedicated to South Africa on the occasion of the
foreseen coming South African high level visits to Spain.
Spain reiterated its support to both the AU and Nepad. In this context, the
Spanish side briefed its South African counterpart on the recent conclusion of
a Special Fund for Gender Issues with Nepad, funded by Spain with 10 million
Euros for the year 2007.
Deputy Minister Pahad provided an assessment of current developments and the
role of South Africa on the peace processes in the Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC), the Great Lakes, Somalia, Sudan and Darfur. The
importance of peace and security in Africa was recognised. The strategic
partnership between South Africa and Spain in their quest to prevent conflict
and achieve post conflict reconstruction in the DRC, the Great Lakes, Somalia,
Sudan and Darfur was reaffirmed. The principals agreed to continue regular
exchanges of information on the African Agenda and the respective roles that
each could play in enhancing European Union-Africa relations.
Both delegations exchanged views on the recent events in the Western Sahara
conflict, following United Nations Security Council Resolution 1 754 of April
30 2007 which calls upon the parties to enter into negotiations under UN
auspices without preconditions in good faith with a view to achieving a just,
lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the
self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Both delegations agreed to
continue working together to support the UN multilateral efforts in assisting
and encouraging the parties to find a just, peaceful and lasting solution to
the conflict.
Spain and South Africa stressed the importance of effective multilateralism
and the indispensable role of the United Nations in solving global problems.
South Africa informed of its role as member of the United Nations Security
Council, and their agenda in the near future. The parties emphasised that the
United Nations should be strengthened through reform to enable it to better
deliver on its mandates. They agreed that reform should also lead to the
democratisation of the key institutions of the United Nations in order to allow
the participation of more countries in decision-making.
Deputy Minister Pahad and Secretary of State Leon exchanged views on issues
regarding the Middle East. The parties also reflected on the escalation of
violence in the area and reiterated their support for a peaceful Middle East.
South Africa praised the role of the Spain in the United Mission in Lebanon and
presented again its condolences for the death of six soldiers after a terrorist
attack.
Deputy Minister Pahad received a briefing on developments within the Latin
American region and an assessment by the Spanish delegation on the way forward
for the region.
Economic and Trade Co-operation
The two sides acknowledged new growth in their bilateral trade, following
suit to the increases in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Furthermore, both parties
acknowledged the growth potential of Foreign Direct Investments, in this
regard, the establishment of a Joint Trade and Investment Committee will be a
useful tool for closer monitoring of the bilateral economic relations. Both
parties agreed that fostering co-operation between South African and Spanish
firms in strategic sectors would be an important task for the future Joint
Committee.
South Africa and Spain exchanged views on their respective trade and
investment promotion strategies as well as the need for Broad-Based Black
Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) regulation, and further committed to facilitate
discussions on implementation issues with Spanish companies engaged in
investment projects.
South African side presented a comprehensive briefing on the Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) as well as on the Joint
Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) and agreed to identify areas
in which they could co-operate, particularly as regards skills acquisition.
Spain briefed the South African Delegation on the current status of the
National Reform Plan.
Both parties also exchanged views regarding the Doha Round and the prospect
of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Southern African
Development Community (SADC). Spain expressed its interest on the role that
South African companies are playing in other African countries. Spain and South
Africa are willing to co-operate in other parts of the world, particularly in
Africa and Latin America.
The parties agreed on the need to take advantage of new opportunities
arising in the South African market, especially against the background of the
coming 2010 World Cup.
The South African representatives met with representatives from the
Confederation of Spanish Entrepreneurs Organisation, INTERES-Invest in Spain,
as well as with representatives from the Secretary General for Tourism.
Defence Cooperation.
In April 2007, both Ministers of Defence (MODs) signed an Agreement on
defence. Since that date, an important number of activities have been performed
including high level visits and a number of specific agreements have been
signed or are in the process of approval.
It has been agreed to celebrate the first meeting between both MODs during
the second half of this year in Pretoria which will further deepen existing
co-operation in all security and defence issues.
Home affairs
The parties discussed illegal migration and exchanged of information on the
sharing of experiences and best practice.
Spain informed the South African side about the follow-up of the Rabat
Conference on Migration and Development, as well as about the new generation of
bilateral agreements on migration that Spain has offered to countries in West
Africa, in order to tackle this phenomenon with a holistic development
approach. Both parties exchanged views on the EU-Africa Summit to be held in
Lisbon in December 2007, in which the migration issue will be discussed.
Both parties highlighted the need to increase the exchange of information
between the two countries relating to illegal migration and human trafficking
mafias, as well as to other types of criminal activities and international
terrorism groups. Both parties believe that this would lead to an increase in
the efficiency in the fight against all types of criminal networks. Both
parties also agreed on the importance of sharing information on best practices
used by each country in this regard and also referred to the importance of
strengthening the existing relations between the specialised agencies in each
country that are specifically responsible of stopping criminal networks.
Both governments also highlighted the importance of designing travel
documents that are much more secure and that are immune to attempts by
organised criminal organisations to commit fraud and falsifying documents.
The two parties also agreed on the importance of providing global solutions
to global problems relating to illegal migration an stated that these solutions
should be based on close co-operation between the countries of origin,
countries of transit and countries of destination of the migrants in order to
be able to apply a common, continuous and effective policy against illegal
migration mafias.
Both parties also exchanged information on the different border and
migration control procedures used by each country. Both sides discussed plans
to prepare for a future visit by the South African Minister of Home Affairs to
Madrid.
Cultural Cooperation
Both parties support the increase of cultural exchanges between their
countries and express their satisfaction for the progress of ongoing
negotiations on the Programme of Cooperation in the field of Culture for the
years 2007/10. Both sides also express their wish that the Programme be soon
approved by the first Joint Commission in accordance with the provisions of the
Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Spain and the Government of
the Republic of South Africa on co-operation in the fields of Art and Culture,
signed in Pretoria in February 2004.
Health
Both sides agreed on the main priorities that should be tackled in the field
of Health. It was agreed that both sides would make efforts to increase the
presence of South Africa in the advanced Seminars organised by Spain under its
Vita Programme for Africa.
The South African side will identify its main priority to propose to the
VITA program in the AECI the organisation of a regional seminar to be held in
South Africa in the areas of reproductive health, communicable diseases
(including HIV and AIDS), children's health issues and maternal health.
Further consultation will be undertaken to explore ways to collaborate
through African regional institutions in triangular co-operation in third
countries.
Tourism and environment
The South African delegation from the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental
Affairs held several successful meetings with their counterparts from the
Ministry of Trade and Industry, Environmental Affairs, Fisheries, as well as
with representatives from the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation
(AECI).
During African Explosives and Chemical Industries (AECI) meetings, officials
from both sides sorted out administrative problems which had hampered the
project to train South African tour operators in Spanish and looked for further
ways to increase this training through Spanish lecturers at South African
universities.
Regarding Environment issues, officials from the Ministry of Environment
Affairs in Spain explained the Spanish strategies on the fight against
desertification, reduction of Carbon emissions, climate change and waste
disposal. Both sides agreed that further consultation should be explored and
looked forward to the attendance of the South African side to the Conference of
the UN Convention to fight desertification for a new bilateral meeting.
In conclusion of the deliberations of the Annual Political Consultations,
both Deputy Ministers agreed that it proved to be a valuable mechanism to
review and actively promote the excellent ties between South Africa and the
Kingdom of Spain and thanked the different departments for their presence.
Officials were tasked to follow up on the discussions and present clear and
measurable results at the next meeting to be held in South Africa in 2008.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
17 July 2007
