Date: 15/05/2007
Source: Department of Defense
Title: Lekota: Defence Foreign Relations Course opening

Opening address by the Minister of Defence Honourable Mosiuoa Lekota during the opening of the Defence Foreign Relations Course, Pretoria

Programme Director

Welcome to the Defence Foreign Relations (DFR) Course 2007.

The aim of the course is to provide designated Defence Attachés (DAs) and identified South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members with the knowledge and skills to be able to function within the foreign relations environment.

Let me congratulate those of you who have already been appointed as Attachés.

Being an Attaché in a foreign country does not mean you will be on holiday neither should this deployment be seen purely in terms of the financial benefits you will derive from it.

The government adopts certain policies that serve primarily the interests of South Africa and its peoples, the region, Africa and strategic partners. National strategies focus on various issues to enhance strengths, to reduce weakness, optimise opportunities and neutralise threats.

You are being sent to the respective countries to represent South Africa and its interests. We expect that you will represent your country with the necessary commitment and pride.

You are expected to dispense your duties with the necessary honesty and integrity because failure to adhere to these principles will mean that you have failed your country.

I am saying this because in recent times a number of South Africans posted abroad have been found to be involved in untoward activities thus damaging the reputation of South Africa and of the department.

To show how serious the matter was, some were kicked out of the countries to which they were posted.

Further, an Attaché would be exposed to many new spheres, cultures, customs and a member in this position must therefore be knowledgeable over a wide spectrum of topics.

Knowledge of your own country must be legal as you would be requested often to answer on aspects such as legal geographic, social, economic, political etc.

It is expected of you to be knowledgeable with respect to all aspects of the work of the Department of Defence (DoD). This must include:

1. an understanding of international affairs, within the broader context of foreign affairs
2. African and global political environment and dynamics
3. overview of the DoD/SANDF
4. basic understanding of intelligence, the processes, products and what are expected of an Attaché
5. understanding of the defence related industry
6. the practice of protocol and etiquette.

Conducting military diplomacy

The advent of democracy in South Africa and the South African government's approach in the conduct of foreign affairs has increased demand for military representation abroad and resulted in a dramatic increase in accredited military representation to South Africa. It requires the DoD to play an increasing role in the international arena of defence diplomacy and military foreign relations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is the primary mechanism for conducting government's international affairs. Military diplomacy is the DoD's vital component to assist the DFA in achieving government's foreign relations objectives. In describing this, I have often said: "Defence is the function of diplomacy".

Military diplomacy is a valuable asset to the South African government. The purpose of the military diplomacy function is to dispel hostilities, build and maintain trust and contributes to the development of democratic defence forces.

The impact of military diplomacy in the prevention of conflict brings it into contact with the political diplomacy dimension. As two primary elements of government's international power base, the military diplomacy dimension is to proactively support the political diplomacy function. The successful implementation of the DoD strategy is based on the ability to allocate quality and appropriate resources to the military diplomacy function.

Role of the military diplomat

As the Attaché you represent the DoD. It is therefore important to be knowledgeable not only with respect to your Service, but the DoD as a whole.

An Attaché is functionally accountable to SANDF for the execution of all his/her duties but is ultimately accountable to the Secretary for Defence for the entire spectrum of functions he/she engages in.

The Attaché is also accountable to the South African Ambassador in the country of accreditation for the execution of duties arising from his/her status as Attaché and as a member of the Ambassador's staff.

The main functions of an Attaché are:

* representation and liaison
* to establish, enhance and maintain contact at the highest level with the Armed Forces in the countries of accreditation
* to be conversant with all DoD matters of importance so as to provide considered advice and opinions concerning military to military relations between the DoD and your countries of accreditation
* responsible for the planning, co-ordination and control of all visits of members of the DoD to the host country
* support to visiting delegations of the host country to South Africa
* you are to establish and maintain relations with members of the Attaché Corps paying particular attention to the African group.

Co-operation within the South African embassy

* You are the military, security and defence industry advisor to the South African Ambassador and are to keep him/her fully informed at all times and especially with respect to issues of importance in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and the host country.

* You must continuously ensure that all actions falls within the framework of mission objectives. You must inform your Ambassador of any actions/activities which may have a political connotation and/or which may adversely affect relations between the RSA and your countries of accreditation.

* You must become actively involved with the Security Committee of the mission and provide the security status, inputs and feedback to DFR on a regular basis.

* You must strive to establish and maintain sound and professional working relationships with other members of the South African Embassy.

* Projects, support and co-operation

You must support and if so ordered, manage DoD projects with the host country.

* Defence related industry

You are to render support, assistance and advice as requested by the defence related industry and as directed by DFR. You are to identify ways in which RSA defence related industries could be promoted.

As indicated above the responsibilities allocated to an attaché are vast and require integrity, honesty, commitment, passion, and good organisational and administrative skills. As Attaché you must be able to function wholly and totally independent. If you are not equal to the task, you must not venture into this territory lest you face the possibility of being recalled if your standards and performance are below the par. I would advice those who have already accepted the positions but may feel unsure after this course to withdraw in order to place people who have the necessary ingredients of success in the job. This would be an honest and laudable reflection on your part.

Enjoy the Defence Foreign Relations Course and use this as a stepping-stone to further your knowledge of international relations. It is a changing environment and before you must at all times stay abreast with world developments and trends.

Thank you

Issued by: Department of Defence
15 May 2007