Slovakia
11 June 2007
Bratislava: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has
today, 11 June 2007, signed a co-operation agreement with her Slovak Republic
counterpart Foreign Minister Jan Kubis in Bratislava. The memorandum of
co-operation agreement lays a good basis for regulating Ministerial
co-operation between Slovakia and South Africa and creates a mechanism for
regular interaction and consultation between the two countries.
The two Ministers also exchanged views, among others on the following
issues:
1. The need to strengthen co-operation in the fields of politics, economics
and trade within the framework of the agreement.
2. Multilateral issues such as the reform of the security sector, especially
the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including exchanging views on
Kosovo.
3. Relations between the African and the European Union (EU) ahead of the
forthcoming EU - Africa Summit in Lisbon in December 2007.
Both countries also agreed on the need to increase co-operation between the
two in various fields such as human resources development and encourage the
private sectors to explore areas of co-operation in fields such as automotive
sector, textiles and services.
Both South Africa and Slovakia serve in the UNSC as non-permanent
members.
Minister Dlamini Zuma also paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Speaker of the
National Council, Mr Milan Hort.
In concluding the visit tomorrow, 12 June 2007, Minister Dlamini Zuma will
upon invitation of the Slovak Republic Academy of Foreign Relations speak on
the subject "The Vision of the Republic of South Africa on the future of the
African Continent".
As part of strengthening cultural links between the two countries, Minister
Dlamini Zuma will be a guest during an opera performance at the Slovak National
Theatre, Giuseppe Verdi: Nabucco.
Minister Dlamini Zuma returns to South Africa on Wednesday, 13 June 2007, to
provide support to President Thabo Mbeki during the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) State visit.
For more info contact:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
11 June 2007
