Ntsaluba, Media Centre, Union Buildings, Pretoria
8 April 2009
Condolences from South African government following earthquake in Italy
The South African government reiterates its condolences following the
devastating earthquake that hit Central Italy on Monday, 6 April 2009. We
convey the sorry that we share, as South Africa and the South African
government, with the government and people of Italy.
Outcomes of the G20 Summit
I know that Treasury has provided a detailed briefing of this matter. But I
wish to reiterate that the government is indeed happy with the broad outline of
the outcomes of the G-20 meeting because quite a number of them did accord with
the beliefs and views we held particularly the effect that growth to be
sustained needs to be shared and that the plan for recovery that was to
discussed in London should not only be focusing on the restoration of jobs and
the livelihoods of people particularly in the developed countries but that is
was important to really address the challenges and the impact on the developing
countries.
We are also happy with the general commitment that has been expressed
relating to the reform of the mandate, scope and governance of the global
financial institutions to be more reflective of the changes in the global
economy and in particular, the issue of the greater enhancement of the voice of
the developing nations.
We are also particularly happy with the commitment expressed on the need to
ensure as a global community and as individual nations of the world that as we
respond to these challenges we avoid, nonetheless, repeating mistakes that have
been made in the past, particularly mistakes made towards moving towards
greater protectionist interventions and therefore the need to refrain from
adding new barriers to trade and investment by doing things that countries were
beginning to entertain. So we are particularly happy about that.
We are also happy about the commitments made with respect to the
reaffirmation of the confirmation of the international community to the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Now, as I say, I
thought I would particularly highlight those specific points but generally the
thrust of our response being that we are happy with the outcome.
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Now, Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been busy of late
dealing with two specific issues â the situation in Zimbabwe and the situation
in Madagascar.
With respect to Zimbabwe, you will recall that we did have the Joint
Co-operation Council (JCC) in the middle of March and the Extra-ordinary Summit
last week in Swaziland. We continue to be encouraged by the progress the
inclusive government is making. I think certainly, at the time when we met for
the JCC at the Victoria Falls and also in all subsequent encounters with the
representatives of the government, we get a sense of greater coherence and a
strong commitment of the different parties to work together and we think that
augurs well for Zimbabwe. That does not mean there will be no challenges or
immediate difficulties but I must say we are encouraged by the fact that at
least, up to now, whatever challenges do exist, the inclusive government has
felt it is within the capacity of the inclusive government and the structures
that have been formed, in terms of the Global Political Agreement to deal with
those issues so SADC has not been called specifically by Zimbabwe to intervene
on any specific issue.
But of course, we know that there is also the major challenge related to the
reconstruction of the economy and we believe this is a task, that with all the
goodwill in the world, it is not possible for the parties in Zimbabwe to do
this without a lot of support. So, from them we expect they must send the
correct signals to the investor community and particularly, the biggest signal
they can send is to convey a sense of coherence and greater sense of a
commitment by all to rebuild Zimbabwe. I think this is the biggest signal that
we all want from them. I think it will then be incumbent on the international
community and the region to help them with those things that they themselves
cannot do alone, particularly with respect to the economic reconstruction.
As South Africa, we have stated in the past, both for reasons of good
neighbourliness and also for reasons linked to our own national interest that
we would do everything possible to ensure we speed up the process of the
Zimbabwean economy regaining its place because Zimbabwe is an important trading
partner for South Africa and an economically viable and vibrant Zimbabwe is in
the best interests of South Africa so, the support that we give now, we give
fully knowing it is support, as I say, in the short term it will help the
people of Zimbabwe but in the longer term will help the people of South Africa.
And that is why we are also encouraged by the interaction and the moves by the
South African business community particularly, and off course, we have had
discussions with BUSA, we are aware of their trip to Zimbabwe and we look
forward to working with the South African business community in partnership
with our government to work with the government and people of Zimbabwe.
We are continuing the process of negotiations and I think we are very close
to finalising the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
(BIPPA) which is obviously very important and will assist in sending the right
signals to the South African investor community in Zimbabwe.
With respect to their immediate needs, South Africa has made an undertaking
and we are just finalising the details â we will provide support to Zimbabwe in
two forms â one form would be support to Zimbabwe through helping in some of
the targeted sectors which we are currently discussing with Zimbabwe in line
with our commitment to move speedily to alleviate the plight, particularly of
the most vulnerable in Zimbabwe.
And of course, the second ongoing discussion is that of our Treasury and
Reserve Bank and also with Zimbabwe with a view to what we can do regarding a
credit line for Zimbabwe. And let me stress, the second area of the credit
line, will be a commercial agreement. It will not be a grant; it will be, as
the name implies a credit line to be used by the Zimbabwean private sector. As
to the details of that, I know there is a lot of speculation as to the amounts
involved but we would prefer to not get into that because the discussions are
ongoing and will be finalised pretty soon.
In conclusion on the Zimbabwean situation, as you know, our Minister of
Finance is part of the Task team that has been established after the
Extraordinary Summit to ensure they make representation to the international
community. We also are aware that the Cabinet of Zimbabwe met recently for
their strategic planning session and that they have devised a very clear
programme and have also assembled a team that will be approaching some of the
countries particularly the major donors. We believe these two endeavours will
be complementary.
Madagascar
With respect to Madagascar, we obviously continue to be concerned with what
is going on. We have heard some of the reports around decisions taken by the
new administration in Madagascar, the current administration particularly with
respect to their continued membership of SADC. We of course stand by the
positions expressed of non-recognition of unconstitutional passage of power in
Madagascar and we will continue, as South Africa, to work within the framework
of the agreement that was reached in Swaziland to look at how speedily
democratic governance can be restored to Madagascar.
Of course we continue to follow some of the developments, we continue to be
concerned about the loss of life and really the ongoing persecution,
particularly of those seen to be supportive of the ousted President
Ravalomanana.
Now, maybe just to say, with respect to issues related to continued
membership of SADC by Madagascar as a country, the Executive Secretary of SADC
will in due course be leading a delegation to Madagascar and I think out of
that interaction, it will be clearer. In the discussions with Mr Rajoelina the
former Mayor of Antananarivo, we will hear then in that point in time what this
is all about.
African Union (AU) Executive Council Meeting, Sirte, Libya, 15 to 16 April
2009
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will be attending
a meeting of the Executive Council of the African Union 15 to 16 April 2009 in
Sirte, Libya. This is a special meeting called to discuss the establishment of
the African Union Authority or the transformation of the African Union
Commission to the African Union Authority. You will recall this was a decision
of the January Summit but this issue could not be concluded because of
differences on the content and really of this Authority and what it will in
reality do. And so, a decision was taken and also to look at what implications
the Authority could have on the constitutive act because the understanding was
that whatever changes are to take place to the Commission the decision of heads
of state was that it should be done within the context and framework of the
current constitutive act. And of course, this authority was seen as another
step towards the ideal in the medium to longer term of the establishment of the
Union Government.
So, this meeting will be looking at such things as the function of the
Authority, the size of the Authority, whether new commissioners would be
established within the context of ongoing discussions that some of the
commissioners have very wide mandates eg. the commissioner for the Social
Sector which covers about eight sectors which would be ministries in various
member states, so that discussion will also deal with that while also looking
at the financial implications of these decisions. This is likely to be a very
robust meeting for the simple reason that as you would understand the formation
of an Authority was decided as a compromise between the points of view that
wanted consolidation of the existing commission and those that wanted to move
forward with the establishment of an African Union government immediately.
It is obvious that in discussions regarding the Authority, these streams of
thought continue to come up because those who wanted to establish the Union
Government want to pretend that the Authority is that African Union government
and want to load what is envisaged for the African Union government on that
authority. So, I think it is going to be a very robust discussion but that is
what will take place.
Deputy Minister Hajaig to host Iraqi counterpart
Deputy Foreign Minister Fatima Hajaig will on Tuesday, 14 April 2009, hold
bilateral political, economic and trade discussions with her Iraqi counterpart
Iraqi under Secretary of Foreign Affairs Labeed Abbawi in Pretoria on Tuesday
14 April 2009.
This is really to begin to reconnect with Iraq with respect to our bilateral
relations. You will recall that at some point we had significant trade volumes
between South Africa and Iraq and those have over the years decreased
significantly and with the progressive restoration of some semblance of
stability in Baghdad and throughout the territory of Iraq, we are then looking
at how this can be stepped up.
The Iraqis are also interested on how to share ideas and probably get some
views from South Africans that they will meet on how to sustain the nation
building process in Iraq.
Questions and answers
Question: Director-General, apart from the messages you have articulated
that the Zimbabwean Unity Government should be disseminating to the
international community, are there specific things that South Africa would like
to see? The international community for instance is asking for the end of
detentions, farm grabs, etc?
Answer: I think it is fair to say that yes we expect overall greater
coherence. This is what is was referring to when I said we are encouraged by
the fact that the signals we are getting from all the parties, across the
political spectrum in Zimbabwe, is that these thorny issues that needed to be
sorted out the status of the governor, senior civil servants were all part of
the agreement and obviously South Africa wants them to be sorted out. We are
urging that we move speedily towards the resolution of those but the signal we
constantly get from the Zimbabwean formations is that indeed, there are
discussions taking place on all these issues, and to the extent there seems to
be an acceptance of a credible process they are following, we are encouraged.
But indeed, we think it is important that there is movement with speed to
remove any factor that would create suspicion about whether or not this
inclusive government is coherent and will last.
We have heard all sorts of explanations about what appears to be a new wave
of farm invasions and again, we have heard these within the context of which
agreements were reached and some of these farms seem to be farms that were
already gazetted prior to the 15 September agreement and therefore form part of
the 15 September agreement in that they will not be reversed.
Even in spite of this, the images that get conveyed, or are a bit
problematic to those who do not know the details of what is happening may
create a sense of another new wave contrary to the spirit of the 15 September
2008 agreement. So, indeed, we are concerned and therefore urge the government
of Zimbabwe to try and deal with these issues as expeditiously as possible.
With respect to the issue of what other potential partners would want â I
think the message we are sending as South Africa and the Minister has had an
opportunity to interact with various countries in Europe in the past month and
the message from us is that we are really discouraging people to adopt a wait
and see attitude. We believe that what the people of Zimbabwe now need more
than ever before are signals that assist them to see that the inclusive
government spells the end of their continued suffering or the beginning of the
end because that is what will make people give space and support the inclusive
government and all the processes have started.
We are encouraged by discussions in the legislature whose essence is around
establishing all the committees agreed upon for example to start working on the
amendments to the Zimbabwean constitution. So encouragement is needed and the
populace must feel that positive change has come to Zimbabwe. We expect that
some people will be reluctant at the beginning but we really believe that our
task is to urge as many people as possible to be supportive and off course,
certain countries may have different political considerations but off course,
there are certain things, especially the scaling up of the humanitarian
assistance, supporting bona fides business people in Zimbabwe. I think those
should be beyond dispute and therefore even those who might have their own
reservations about particular political actors should not allow their concern
to inhibit assistance to Zimbabwe in a way that would amount to the punishment
of the people of Zimbabwe.
Question: Director-General, with regard to Zimbabwe's economic recovery will
South Africa's interaction with Zimbabwe be bilateral or multilateral?
Answer: South Africa, as South Africa will make her own contribution, but
basically the call that SADC has made is that South Africa has to take the
lead. We probably have the greatest vested interest in the success of Zimbabwe
so, as SADC we have taken that decision and as SADC, we have taken a decision
that we must all do what is possible within our own capacities but I think it
is also fair to say that SADC countries, whilst everyone might have the
intention to assist, we have got differences in terms of the means.
It would also be fair that perhaps there will be a general expectation that
perhaps South Africa could do more than others. And I think that South Africa
would accept the fact that indeed, we cannot measure what we do on the basis of
what everyone is doing. We have to measure on the basis of what our own means
permit us to do. So we will do this. But the two things are complementary.
Outside the SADC framework, we also have our own bilateral Joint Commission
with Zimbabwe and that Joint Commission covers a number of very important areas
to the economic reconstruction of Zimbabwe for example, there is an agreement
on which we are working regarding agriculture, we have an agreement broadly
finalised on trade, we have an agreement on health, and we are envisaging that
some of these agreements will be signed between 14 to 15 April 2009. So, there
is an attempt for us to hit that headline and that is how South Africa is
involved in this process.
Question: DG, during SADC it was said there were a number of countries who
had not decided what assistance to render which countries are those? And when
will they report to the Troika?
Answer: Unfortunately, I do not have this information now but we know that
Botswana and Namibia have made firm commitments and we know that there are
countries like Tanzania and Zambia that were going to have consultations. Now,
those consultations were to be co-ordinated through the Executive Secretary of
SADC and I must say that we have not had a consultation with him to get a sense
of the progress.
Question: DG, on the situation with the farms, did the MDC accept in the 15
September agreement that all farms were state-owned?
Answer: No, I think what was accepted in the Agreement was that the
processes of the land distribution that had taken place up to that point and
there is a general understanding that up to that point meant the process of
gazetting the farms, that process would be taken as a process that would be
respected. There would be a parallel process of trying to solicit support and
funds to ensure that as agreed by the parties, some sort of fair compensation
would be given to those who land had been taken.
And that was the broad agreement so that is why I was saying is that the
problem with the current wave of what appears to be land invasions is that when
you enquire you sometimes get an explanation that there are certain farms or
pieces of land that had already been taken through that process, gazetted, but
the new owners had not moved onto the land and what also seems to be happening
is that with the new administration, those who believe and anticipate the
transfer of the land to themselves will require government support for the land
to be tilled because some of the people did not move in. I think it is those
farms to which are referred as farm grabs. So, even where rational and credible
explanations are available, the images are not good. Therefore, the matter must
be concluded speedily.
Question: DG, some of those farms are supposedly protected by decisions of
the SADC tribunal and I am not sure if there is a clash of jurisdictions?
Answer: I think are right, as you know some of these cases did go to the
SADC tribunal but I think there has been a bit of contestation which is a legal
issue of going through the courts in Zimbabwe between those who believe that
what the tribunal said should take precedence over the national legislation and
there are people who think otherwise in Zimbabwe. That process is following the
due legal processes and as far as we know, that process has not been
completed.
Question: What is the purpose of the visit of the SADC delegation to
Madagascar?
Answer: This is a team led by the SADC Executive Secretary. It was
originally intended to convey clearly the SADC decisions to the current
administration and also to go beyond the communiqué in terms of the decisions
and the views of the regional leadership to the former mayor and the current
administration. That was the original purpose. However, unavoidably, that task
would now have to take into consideration the new pronouncements that they are
walking out of SADC.
Question: DG, how true are reports that President Ravalomanana will seek
asylum in South Africa?
Answer: Well he has not formally sought asylum in South Africa. He has been
to South Africa. He has also, as you know, been to Swaziland. We understand he
has recently been to Addis Ababa so he is not fully stationed in South Africa
but he is here with the full knowledge of the South African government and is
receiving all the courtesies that would have been afforded to as a Head of
State whether on a private or public visit. But there will be ongoing
discussions with him as to his longer term plans. You must also understand that
the SADC communiqué from Swaziland committed to trying to do everything
possible to looking at options for his restoration as the legitimate head of
state of Madagascar so I think that in that context it will be difficult for
him to simultaneously seek asylum but I think what he has been accorded it to
the extent that he still needs to spend some time in South Africa he can do so.
And I think there will be ongoing contact with him by the appropriate members
of the South African government.
Question: DG, the matter of the Dalai Lama is now going to the
Constitutional Court. Do you believe that South Africa's standing as a human
rights champion has been affected by this matter? Should the Dalai Lama wish to
visit South Africa in future, will he be given a visa?
Answer: Our executive has communicated on this and I don't think that there
has been any communication that the Dalai Lama would not ever be allowed into
South Africa. If he makes a request to visit South Africa, that will be taken
on its merit. I must be a bit cautious because, as you correctly point out,
this is a matter before the constitutional court and obviously even though it
will be the Department of Home Affairs making representation, there will be a
clear articulation of government response and one cannot be blind to that.
With respect to the issue of human rights, I think that probably at the end
of this process, and I think the courts will help clarify this matter, to the
extent that there may be a perception that this is something that has damaged
South Africa's credibility then off course, this would be of grave concern to
every South Africa because I think we pride ourselves on what we have achieved
and what we are doing.
I think that out of this entire process, there is something greater that may
come out that will create the platform for robust debate in South Africa what
would enable an understanding of human rights in a more comprehensive matter
and what is means that South Africa attempts to advance human rights globally
and what is the spectrum that we are talking about and I think these are very
complex and emotive debates but perhaps we have not engaged as robustly as we
should have. Probably once the court case has settled, we may have greater
space to do this.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
8 April 2009
