Deputy Minister of Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Mr Ebrahim I Ebrahim, completed his successful official working visit to the Republic of Cyprus today, 29 June 2011.
The visit came as a positive response to an invitation to the Deputy Minister from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Ambassador Nicholas Emiliou. The visit was inspired by a desire to further deepen and strengthen the good and historic traditional relations of camaraderie, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries.
Some of the core objectives of this visit as set out by DIRCO were as follows:
- To promote and strengthen bilateral relations with Cyprus and to identify possible areas of cooperation in support of South Africa’s five national priorities.
- To strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation on issues of global concern, including those of global system of governance (including the reform of themultilateral institutions such as United Nations (UN) and institutions) and climate change and issues related to COP17 (which South Africa will be hosting at the end of this year).
- To have consultations in respect of the resolution of the Cyprus question. This led to an improved understanding of the Cyprus Question which will help in South Africa further developing a policy in this regard.
In paving the way for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Political Consultations between South Africa and the Republic of Cyprus in the near future, both parties emphasised in their discussions their commitment to formalising a framework for holding regular consultations at various levels on regional and international issues of mutual interest – and such consultations will cover all aspects of the two countries’ bilateral relations, Africa, world political developments, mechanisms for resolving regional and international disputes and conflicts within the UN multilateral system.
They also reaffirmed the current arrangement in which the Permanent Missions at the United Nations of both countries coordinate and consult with each other on issues of mutual concern in the spirit of constructive cooperation.
Among those the Deputy Minister met were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus; Political Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Ambassador Rea Yiordamlis; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yiannakis Omirou; and Honorary President of the EDEK Socialist Party, Mr Vassos Lyssarides.
The Deputy Mayor of Nicosia, the capital city, Mrs Soula Kolakidou, took the Deputy Minister and his delegation on a tour of the buffer zone (which is managed by the United Nations Peace Keeping Force for Cyprus) that divides the island country into Turkish Cyprus and Greek Cyprus.
Also met by the Deputy Minister was South Africa’s Honorary Consul to the Republic of Cyprus, Mr A Artemis.
The Deputy Minister was accompanied by Ambassador Sophonia Makgetla, South Africa’s Ambassador to Greece and non-accredited ambassador-designate to Cyprus; DIRCO’s Ambassador Rapulane Molekane, Deputy Director-General: Europe and other senior government officials.
The Deputy Minister and his delegation leave the Republic of Cyprus today, 29 June 2011, for bilateral meetings in Greece.
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