Meeting with President of Norwegian Parliament strengthens relations
A meeting here today between the South African Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Max Sisulu, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, and the Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament, Mr Olemic Thommessen, agreed on the need to strengthen contact and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries.
It was an historic first meeting – a celebration of friendship and solidarity – characterised by deep emotion relating to the struggle for liberation in South Africa and melancholy reflections on the “unforgettable” passing of Mr Nelson Mandela late last year.
Norway is an established first-world economy with a 200-year-old constitution. There are numerous commonalities between the two democratic systems, including the electoral lists system. The country has established trade relations with South Africa and is particularly strong in the energy, gas and oil, maritime and climate change industries.
While acknowledging the two countries’ long-standing relationship and cooperation, the Presiding Officers agreed that contact between the people of the two countries can be improved.
“We need to be more acquainted,” Mr Thommessen said.
What are needed are creative and structured partnerships. This can be achieved through regular engagement followed by concrete action for the benefit of both our countries, the Presiding Officers said.
Exchange programmes, skills transfer and closer working relations between committees of both Parliaments were singled out for urgent attention. Critical areas identified for cooperation also included the pharmaceuticals industry, education, rural development and mining.
“South Africa is a vibrant, young, sometimes noisy democracy, with great potential. Our relationships with parliaments of the world are about learning, but also about offering lessons,” Mr Sisulu said.
In his reply, Mr Thommessen acknowledged democratic South Africa’s track record in the area of human rights and Mr Mandela’s personal contribution to the development of that record.
“Our sense of solidarity with South Africans enables us to identify with your success. You achieved in your first 20 years of democracy what we could not achieve in our first 100,” he said.
“We consider this country to be a gateway to Africa. We have resources and expertise to contribute to the democratic development of the continent. We know that for us to succeed in doing this, we need to utilise this country’s lessons and advice in relation to Africa,” he said.
Mr Mahlangu expressed his optimism that, “the foundation in the form of historical collaboration and solidarity between the two countries could yield very good results for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.”
