Date: 21/07/2003
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: SA-Iran Joint Bilateral Commission
OPENING STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, ON THE 7th SOUTH AFRICA-IRAN JOINT BILATERAL COMMISSION, 21 July 2003
Your Excellency Minister Kamal Kharrazi,
Director-General Ghanezadeh,
Distinguished members of the Iranian public and private sector,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for us to welcome you to the capital of the Republic of South Africa. We appreciate this opportunity to attempt to reciprocate some of your renowned hospitality that is always afforded South African delegations when we visit the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The South African Government places great value on this annual gathering when we can take stock of relations with a country which we consider to be both a friend and a strategic partner.
I have been made aware that this is the largest Iranian delegation that has yet attended our Joint Bilateral Commission. Reports from my department and our mission in Tehran also place on record that the past year has seen a sharp increase in the number of official delegations visiting the two countries and that the number of business visas issued to Iranian businessmen doubled in the year following the 6th Joint Commission.
These milestones came as no surprise to us as the Iranian government has clearly shown its commitment to South Africa and the continent of Africa.
The past year marked tremendous progress in the excellent relations between South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran as we celebrate 10 years of diplomatic ties born of a creative partnership through decades of struggle. During these ten years we saw relations between our countries expanding in all spheres and this trend should be acknowledged and expanded upon during this Joint Commission. I would like to express on behalf of all South Africans our gratitude to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support in our endeavours to achieve the freedoms that we enjoy today.
Your Excellency, you may recall that the apartheid regime had very good relations with the regime of the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. After the Islamic Revolution of Iran (1979), the relationship with the South African regime was severed and for this we are sincerely grateful. This act remains indicative of the shared values between South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran namely the promotion of democracy, justice, peace and prosperity. Both countries also share the view that only democracy will bring peace to countries like Iraq, Palestine, Burundi and the DRC.
Honourable Minister, the intrinsic linkages between Iran and the African continent are witnessed in the deep economic, political and social ties that exist between Iran and African countries. Iran's commitments to the development of Africa has been reflected in its reliability and trustworthiness in its relationship with South Africa.
It is in this spirit that we welcome Iran's support and commitment to the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the aspirations of the African Renaissance as you demonstrated during the hosting of the Africa-Iran Forum earlier this year. This Forum has enabled Africa to identify areas of mutual cooperation which will enable the continent to engage Iran in a strategic manner.
Bearing this in mind our governments are equally resolved to ensure that the benefits of economic change and prosperity reach all sectors of our societies. During our discussions and deliberations we should not forget our domestic imperatives by ensuring a better life for the all our people.
We must continue to do more to further consolidate and expand our strategic partnership through regular exchanges and engagements in an atmosphere of trust, goodwill and mutuality of interest and ideals. Your Excellency, the simple fact is that we who sit in this room, and others like us who are not here, but who constitute the global leadership of all humanity, know everything we need to know about poverty. The outcomes of the 7th BNC should not lose sight of those who are in need.
I would like to quote President Mbeki where he said in his recent address to the ILO Conference, "the surfeit of information available to all of us says that we live in a world defined by a deep economic and social structural fault that mirrors the angry outburst of the money merchant of the Parable of the Talents, when he uttered the ominous curse not just to his servant, but to the poor of the world: For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
We are happy to announce that relations between our two countries in the economic sphere are in the best shape they have ever been. 2003 has witnessed the private sectors of both countries making serious commitments to each other. From the South African side, PetroSA and Sasol have established or are in the process of establishing regional offices in Iran. Agreements have been signed that will see these two companies co-operating with their Iranian partners in groundbreaking work in the petro-chemical sector.
South African mining companies have recognised the potential that lies beneath Iranian soil and over the last year South African companies have been assisting with the exploitation of Iranian zinc and manganese deposits. Iran has recognised in South Africa a partner that has the expertise to assist them in their strategic plan for this sector and we would like to assure you of our confidence that the South African private and public sectors will not disappoint them.
In the field of agriculture a natural affinity has developed between our two countries as we attempt to feed our people. I have been made aware of the excellent co-operation that exists at present between the ostrich farmers of our two countries. There is, however, still work to be done as far as the finalisation of veterinary and phyto-sanitary protocols are concerned and we trust that these issues will be resolved during this Joint Commission.
It also gives us great pleasure to acknowledge significant Iranian direct investment in our economy. One Vision Investments, an Iranian consortium, has recently committed more than 75 million dollars to a housing development in the Western Cape and is also in the process of expanding their interests to the Eastern Cape. Their commitment to people orientated investment and job creation is noted with appreciation.
Despite these significant developments we cannot, however, ignore the fact that the trade imbalance that exists between our two countries remains a worrying characteristic of our relationship. This imbalance reached more than a billion dollars last year. I would like to implore this gathering to find a way to resolve this issue.
In this regard the private sector represented here today must lead the way. This Joint Commission will see the establishment of a South Africa-Iran Business Forum. This institution that will be led by the organised chambers of business in our two countries will endeavour to expose opportunities and incentives that exist in our two economies and will make sure that our businessmen and women will be in a position to compete for projects and contracts on an equal footing with competitors from elsewhere in the world. I wish them well in this.
Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, the eyes of our people are upon us, let our labours of the next two days be of such a nature that the results will speak for itself in a loud voice in the coming year.
Thank you very much
For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082-990-4853 or Nomfanelo Kota on 082 377 7208
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
21 July 2003
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: SA-Iran Joint Bilateral Commission
OPENING STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, ON THE 7th SOUTH AFRICA-IRAN JOINT BILATERAL COMMISSION, 21 July 2003
Your Excellency Minister Kamal Kharrazi,
Director-General Ghanezadeh,
Distinguished members of the Iranian public and private sector,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for us to welcome you to the capital of the Republic of South Africa. We appreciate this opportunity to attempt to reciprocate some of your renowned hospitality that is always afforded South African delegations when we visit the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The South African Government places great value on this annual gathering when we can take stock of relations with a country which we consider to be both a friend and a strategic partner.
I have been made aware that this is the largest Iranian delegation that has yet attended our Joint Bilateral Commission. Reports from my department and our mission in Tehran also place on record that the past year has seen a sharp increase in the number of official delegations visiting the two countries and that the number of business visas issued to Iranian businessmen doubled in the year following the 6th Joint Commission.
These milestones came as no surprise to us as the Iranian government has clearly shown its commitment to South Africa and the continent of Africa.
The past year marked tremendous progress in the excellent relations between South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran as we celebrate 10 years of diplomatic ties born of a creative partnership through decades of struggle. During these ten years we saw relations between our countries expanding in all spheres and this trend should be acknowledged and expanded upon during this Joint Commission. I would like to express on behalf of all South Africans our gratitude to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support in our endeavours to achieve the freedoms that we enjoy today.
Your Excellency, you may recall that the apartheid regime had very good relations with the regime of the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. After the Islamic Revolution of Iran (1979), the relationship with the South African regime was severed and for this we are sincerely grateful. This act remains indicative of the shared values between South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran namely the promotion of democracy, justice, peace and prosperity. Both countries also share the view that only democracy will bring peace to countries like Iraq, Palestine, Burundi and the DRC.
Honourable Minister, the intrinsic linkages between Iran and the African continent are witnessed in the deep economic, political and social ties that exist between Iran and African countries. Iran's commitments to the development of Africa has been reflected in its reliability and trustworthiness in its relationship with South Africa.
It is in this spirit that we welcome Iran's support and commitment to the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the aspirations of the African Renaissance as you demonstrated during the hosting of the Africa-Iran Forum earlier this year. This Forum has enabled Africa to identify areas of mutual cooperation which will enable the continent to engage Iran in a strategic manner.
Bearing this in mind our governments are equally resolved to ensure that the benefits of economic change and prosperity reach all sectors of our societies. During our discussions and deliberations we should not forget our domestic imperatives by ensuring a better life for the all our people.
We must continue to do more to further consolidate and expand our strategic partnership through regular exchanges and engagements in an atmosphere of trust, goodwill and mutuality of interest and ideals. Your Excellency, the simple fact is that we who sit in this room, and others like us who are not here, but who constitute the global leadership of all humanity, know everything we need to know about poverty. The outcomes of the 7th BNC should not lose sight of those who are in need.
I would like to quote President Mbeki where he said in his recent address to the ILO Conference, "the surfeit of information available to all of us says that we live in a world defined by a deep economic and social structural fault that mirrors the angry outburst of the money merchant of the Parable of the Talents, when he uttered the ominous curse not just to his servant, but to the poor of the world: For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
We are happy to announce that relations between our two countries in the economic sphere are in the best shape they have ever been. 2003 has witnessed the private sectors of both countries making serious commitments to each other. From the South African side, PetroSA and Sasol have established or are in the process of establishing regional offices in Iran. Agreements have been signed that will see these two companies co-operating with their Iranian partners in groundbreaking work in the petro-chemical sector.
South African mining companies have recognised the potential that lies beneath Iranian soil and over the last year South African companies have been assisting with the exploitation of Iranian zinc and manganese deposits. Iran has recognised in South Africa a partner that has the expertise to assist them in their strategic plan for this sector and we would like to assure you of our confidence that the South African private and public sectors will not disappoint them.
In the field of agriculture a natural affinity has developed between our two countries as we attempt to feed our people. I have been made aware of the excellent co-operation that exists at present between the ostrich farmers of our two countries. There is, however, still work to be done as far as the finalisation of veterinary and phyto-sanitary protocols are concerned and we trust that these issues will be resolved during this Joint Commission.
It also gives us great pleasure to acknowledge significant Iranian direct investment in our economy. One Vision Investments, an Iranian consortium, has recently committed more than 75 million dollars to a housing development in the Western Cape and is also in the process of expanding their interests to the Eastern Cape. Their commitment to people orientated investment and job creation is noted with appreciation.
Despite these significant developments we cannot, however, ignore the fact that the trade imbalance that exists between our two countries remains a worrying characteristic of our relationship. This imbalance reached more than a billion dollars last year. I would like to implore this gathering to find a way to resolve this issue.
In this regard the private sector represented here today must lead the way. This Joint Commission will see the establishment of a South Africa-Iran Business Forum. This institution that will be led by the organised chambers of business in our two countries will endeavour to expose opportunities and incentives that exist in our two economies and will make sure that our businessmen and women will be in a position to compete for projects and contracts on an equal footing with competitors from elsewhere in the world. I wish them well in this.
Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, the eyes of our people are upon us, let our labours of the next two days be of such a nature that the results will speak for itself in a loud voice in the coming year.
Thank you very much
For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082-990-4853 or Nomfanelo Kota on 082 377 7208
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
21 July 2003
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