Your Excellency, H E Dr José Valencia, Ambassador of Ecuador to South Africa,
H E Ambassador Bene M’Poko, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
Your Excellency, Ambassador Carlos Sersale, Dean of the GRULAC Group
Professor Cheryl De La Rey, Vice Chancellor and Principle of the University of Pretoria
Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Government Colleagues, friends and compatriots
Your Excellency, Ambassador Valencia, allow me to convey sincere congratulations from President Zuma, the Government and the people of South Africa to President Correa, the Government and the people of Ecuador as we come together to celebrate this special day. It is a great honour for me to be part of this auspicious occasion, a day worth remembering in the history of your country.
Today we connect with Ecuadorians from all walks of life, wherever they may be gathered to mark this special day as they pay homage to their heroes and heroines who have made relentless efforts and sacrifices on behalf of the oppressed masses. I hope that this occasion will serve to remind us of the ultimate price paid for the freedom we enjoy today. Thus, we have an obligation to realise the total freedom of our people from the remnant forces of darkness that continue to stalk our people to this day.
Ambassador, I am sure that you will concur with me when I say that, the world is today crippled by the continuing triple crisis of unemployment, inequality and poverty. These challenges affect us all, and as such, demand our cooperation in pushing back these dark forces that stand to render our hard earned freedom null and void.
It is befitting that we take this opportunity to renew our commitments to a healthy and rewarding bilateral relations and take it to greater heights. We have noted the efforts made by the Embassy of Ecuador in identifying various areas of common interest which our countries should cooperate on to better the lives of our people. We are also confident that our countries shall continue to work together to explore other possible areas of cooperation.
It is therefore heartening to know that during my successful visit to Ecuador earlier this year, both countries agreed to strengthen their bilateral relations in the field Mining and Mineral Resources and also to exchange experiences in Mining. Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) were signed by our Council for Geoscience and MINTEK with the Ecuadorian Research Institute of Geology, Metallurgy and Mining (INIGEMM). Considering trade statistics since 2010, it seems that trade between the two countries is also growing, with the balance favouring Ecuador since 2011.
It is also heartening to know that Ecuador, a country with 7% of its population of 11 million of African descent, is in the process of expanding its footprint in Africa through the opening of Embassies. Ambassador, we are encouraged to note that Ecuador is continuing to conserve its natural wealth and heritage, and legally recognises ecosystem rights. Ecuador is one of the mega-diverse countries in the world, given that it houses a great variety of species, many of them endemic, like those of the Galápagos Islands. We hope that major world players will cooperate and put aside selfish stance to find a lasting solution to climate change for the benefit of all.
Ambassador, as I conclude, allow me to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made Mandela Day a success. Many of us have played our part and brought a smile in the face of the less fortunate as we touched them where it matters most. May we make every day a Mandela day, and change our world to a better place for everyone.
Muchas gracias
I thank you.
Address by Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant - National Day of Ecuador Pretoria
