Sixth Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC) Council
of Ministers meeting, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
21 February 2006
Tehran - South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sue van der
Merwe, currently leading the South African delegation to the IOR-ARC Council of
Ministers two-day meeting, 21 - 22 February 2006, has urged Member States to
raise its international profile, rebuild confidence in its operations and
re-invigorate its potential for the benefit of all its people.
Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe, in her address to the 18-member IOR-ARC,
under the Chairpersonship of Iran highlighted the following:
* The need to promote greater regional integration and co-operation within
IOC-ARC, particularly in view of the real threat of Avian Flu.
* Re-iterated South Africa's commitment to strengthen the IOR-ARC's
institutional capacity and in this regard announced the imminent secondment of
an official to its Secretariat in Mauritius.
* Alluded to the immense potential offered by New Partnership for Africa's
development (NEPAD) and the New Africa Asia Strategic Partnership (NAASP) in
further strengthening South-South Co-operation, particularly in the context of
IOR-ARC.
* Urged IOR-ARC member states to take full advantage of the huge market
opportunities presented by its massive combined population of around two
billion people.
Foreign Ministers, Deputy Foreign Ministers and delegates from Australia,
Bangladesh, Indian, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen, presently meeting in Iran will deliberate further on the
following:
* Mitigation of natural disasters and the establishment of early warning
systems
* Fisheries and maritime co-operation
* Building on Academic and Research capacity exchange
* Promotion of Trade and Investment
Deputy Minister, Ms Sue van Der Merwe, together with other IOR-ARC Heads of
Delegation will pay a courtesy call on the President of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, HE Dr Mahmmoud Ahmadinejad on 21 February 2006.
Deputy Minister Ms Sue van der Merwe will return to South Africa on 24
February 2006.
Enquiries:
Vincent Hlongwane
09 98 912 144 8474
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
21 February 2006
Source: SAPA
