Sue van der Merwe: National Day Celebration of the Russian
Federation

12 June 2007

Ambassador Anatoly Makarov and Mrs Makarov
Your Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen

It is with great pleasure that I represent the people and government of
South Africa on this occasion. We wish to convey to you, Your Excellency, to
the government and the people of the Russian Federation our congratulations on
the celebration of the 17th Anniversary since independence. We are pleased to
join you in this celebration. Ambassador Makarov, as this is the first
opportunity that I have had to celebrate your national day with you since your
arrival in South Africa, may I wish you personally, a very happy celebration
and a fruitful stay in our country.

Your Excellency, I have no doubt that you will continue where your
predecessor left off and continue to consolidate our growing bilateral
relations. South Africa is proud to have such a consistent and strategic
partner in Russia. We will continue in efforts to develop our respective
countries and we will do whatever we can to ensure that our continent and other
developing regions of the world realise their goals of sustainable development
and growth. During President Vladimir Putin's historic state visit last year,
the first ever visit by the head of State of the Russian Federation, our two
Presidents signed the Treaty of Friendship and Partnership which has sealed the
co-operation between our two countries. This agreement has substantially
consolidated our bilateral and multilateral relations and as a result of the
signing of the Agreement on Co-operation in the Field of the Exploration and
Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, South Africa eagerly awaits the
launch of the Sambundilasat satellite which is to take place in Russia later
this year.

Since the establishment of the Joint Bi-National Commission, we have
received numerous high profile visits the most recent being Prime Minister
Fradkov's visit in March this year. The Intergovernmental Trade and Economic
Committee (ITEC) between our two countries has contributed to our bilateral
relations reaching the level of a strategic partnership. The ITEC has so far
been effective in consolidating and expanding our co-operation at various
levels of government and business, in science and technology institutions and
many other formations of civil society. We are particularly pleased to see that
good progress is being made between South Africa and the Russian Federation in
the important areas of minerals and energy and specifically in the area of deep
space research. The high-level interaction between our two countries,
especially in the areas of mining and strategic minerals, bears testimony to
this.

Your Excellency, both countries agree on the importance of our mission to
substantially strengthen the trade, economic and investment relations between
our countries. I am pleased that 2006 saw the exchange of the highest trade
figures between our two countries to date. The Department of Trade and Industry
lead the very successful Business Delegation to Moscow in May and this will no
doubt further enhance activities in the commercial field. I am sure that the
establishment of the Russia/ South Africa Business Forum will amplify trade and
investment between our two countries.

We should also endeavour to add further impetus to our relations in the
cultural area to promote more understanding between our peoples. As you recall,
many of our people were exposed to Russian culture and language during the days
of our own liberation struggle. The good nature, sincerity and hospitality
demonstrated by ordinary Russian people to our people in exile left an
indelible imprint on the minds of many South Africans who continue to have high
regard for the modern day Russian Federation. This is a solid basis for any
relationship and augurs well for our respective foreign policy agendas.

Excellency, a dinner was held in honour of President Putin during his visit
to South Africa. At that dinner a South African choir sang the Russian National
Anthem in Russian. All of us that were there were moved by the lovely young
African voices singing in Russian, a further testimony, I believe to the warmth
with which our countrymen and women hold the Russian people and their
culture.

Mr Ambassador, South Africa and the Russian Federation, together have a duty
to ensure that the changes that are effected at the United Nations and other
multilateral institutions address the global challenge of inequality between
all nations and regions. We should continue to work together so that these
institutions are transformed in such a way that empowers us to defeat poverty,
insecurity and underdevelopment within our respective regions and indeed
globally. We in South Africa are aware of Russia's support for the objectives
of the African Renaissance, especially with reference to the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (Nepad) programmes.

In view of the importance to us of the African Agenda, your country's
assistance within the context of the G8 group of countries will substantially
assist in achieving the goals of the Nepad programme. We also look forward to
continue our strategic relationship, especially in critical aspects of United
Nations Security Council, so that Africa's voice can be heard strongly in the
international community. I am convinced that the possibilities for further
co-operation between South Africa and the Russian Federation are unlimited, and
that our common vision for a more secure world will enable us to identify
opportunities to enhance the creation of a better world for our respective
peoples.

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in raising our glasses
as we toast to the prosperity of the people and the government of the Russian
Federation and to the friendship between our nations.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 June 2007
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)