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SOUTH AFRICA’S STRUCTURED COMMISSIONS WITH NORTH AFRICAN STATES

SOUTH AFRICA’S STRUCTURED COMMISSIONS WITH NORTH AFRICAN STATES. NORTH AFRICA. Arab countries with Islam as dominant religion - secular states Occupied by both religious & colonial forces Close historical ties with Middle East / Gulf States

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SOUTH AFRICA’S STRUCTURED COMMISSIONS WITH NORTH AFRICAN STATES

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  1. SOUTH AFRICA’S STRUCTURED COMMISSIONS WITH NORTH AFRICAN STATES

  2. NORTH AFRICA • Arab countries with Islam as dominant religion - secular states • Occupied by both religious & colonial forces • Close historical ties with Middle East / Gulf States • Close economic & historical ties with Mediterranean Europe

  3. Political destiny tied to Africa and Arab world • Revival of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) • Emergence of Libya from international isolation - implication for regional politics • Most developed region in Africa after RSA • All states in region (except Mauritania = LDC) on Medium Human Development i.t.o. UNDP (Tunisia & Libya outrank SA)

  4. ALGERIA • Est. 1998 - 27 agreements signed: transport; trade; minerals & energy; defence; science & technology; etc. • Regular political consultation between Heads of State & Ministers. • Consolidated SA’s strategic relations with Algeria • Numerous agreements still under negotiation

  5. Mid-term Review Meeting of Snr Officials of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) scheduled for September 2005 - to evaluate status of implementation of 4th BNC • Overlap in constitution of TWGs • TWGs operate at varying levels of efficiency • Lack of implementation remains serious problem

  6. Way-Forward: • BNC to be held annually with a Snr Officials Mid-Term Review Meeting • Reconfigure TWGs - taking into consideration: • - Thematic approach, informed by content, not form • - Work to be streamlined

  7. - Needs to be focussed & made more relevant • Has to add value to the relationship

  8. EGYPT • 17 Agreements signed - solid legal framework established • Little implementation, except for arts & culture; tourism; & bilateral air services • 10 extra-governmental agreements signed over a range of issues • SAA signed code-sharing agreement with Egypt Air in July 2005

  9. Egypt is an important player on continent, in Arab politics & active on developmental agenda = Political partnership based on common interest very important for SA • JBC in existence since 1995 • Bilateral trade rapidly declining since 1998

  10. Way-Forward: • Progress to be assessed after an 18-24 month cycle • Need to focus engagement on political consultation & international issues; trade issues; tourism; agriculture; and arts & culture, science and technology

  11. LIBYA • Diplomatic relations established in 1995 amid UN sanctions & Lockerbie issue • Through SA interventions UN sanctions lifted & Libya welcomed back into international community • Establishment of JBC in 2002 gave impetus to bilateral relations • 2nd JBC scheduled for 2006

  12. Cooperation in mineral & energy sector very good - ESKOM currently refurbishing all power stations in Libya - SA construction & consulting companies involved in infrastructural projects • Several Agreements signed to date • Visit of former Dep-Pres. Zuma earlier in 2005 gave impetus to relations

  13. Reciprocal visit by Prime Minister Shukri Ghanem later in 2005 (to be hosted by Dep-Pres. Ngcuka) envisaged to strengthen bilateral economic relations

  14. Way-Forward: • Implementation of agreements through programmes of action for specific sectors • Mid-Term Review at Snr Official level to assess progress made

  15. MAURITANIA • Diplomatic relations established in 1995 • 1st official visit - Visit by Minister Zuma in January 2005 • Agreed in principle to establish a Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) • 1st JCC can only be held once the situation in Mauritania has been normalised following the coup.

  16. MOROCCO • Inaugural JBC held in Morocco in 1998 • 4 agreements signed - 15 under negotiation • Volume of trade has increased steadily since 2000

  17. Interest in Morocco will have to be resurrected with other depts due to long period of inactivity

  18. TUNISIA • 4th JBC was held in SA in July 2004 • State visit on 12-13 October 2004 • 16 Agreements signed to date • Legal framework to be completed in areas of trade & investment; defence; and arts & culture • Multilaterally Tunisia is active in peacekeeping operations on the continent

  19. Need to encourage development of programme of action for specific fields: medical; agriculture; art & culture; sport; etc. • Current programme to remove cataracts in rural areas by Tunisian opthamologists is a major success • SA drawing lessons from Tunisia on its successful poverty alleviation programme

  20. Way-forward: • JBC to be held bi-annually with annual Mid-Term Reviews at Snr Official level

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