Date: 02/08/2004
Source: Ministry of Defence
Title: M Lekota: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with UK


REMARKS BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE, HON. MGP LEKOTA, AT THE OCCASION OF THE SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ON THE PROVISION OF UK ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL TO THE RSA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE TO ADVISE THE RSA DOD ON ASPECTS OF DEMOCRATIC DEFENCE MANAGEMENT AND PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND SIGNING OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY ARRANGEMENT (SA) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE RSA AND THE UK CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT DURING EXERCISES, TRAINING AND OPERATIONS 2 August 2004

Your Excellency The High Commissioner of The United Kingdom
Senior Management of The Department of Defence of The Republic of South Africa
Members of The Media

Since the establishment of the military diplomatic relationship between South Africa and the United Kingdom during 1994, the military cooperation between the armed forces of our two countries have developed to a level where it can be described as very close and progressively expanding. This is so because since 1994, the Ministries of Defence of the two countries have signed no less than nine Memoranda of Understanding. These instruments have yielded good results.

Through the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), the United Kingdom played a critical role in helping us nurture the SANDF to where it is today.

The phasing out of the BMATT gave birth to the current British Peace Supporting Training Team (BPST), which has been advising the Department of Defence on training, especially in the area of Peace Support Operations.

The Memorandum of Understanding and the Supplementary Arrangement we are signing today will facilitate and regulate increasing bilateral military co-operation between our two countries, particularly in the area of combined military exercises.

The MOU will formalise the presence of the British Peace Support Training Team in South Africa. The team plays an important supporting role during the preparations of DoD elements earmarked for deployment during Peace Support Operations.

The Supplementary Arrangement will complement the provisions of the MOU on Defence Cooperation between South Africa and the UK signed on 12 November 1997 in respect of military exercises, training and operations (other than war) by setting out general principles, procedures and responsibilities and methods of support the Parties may provide to each other.

The Supplementary Agenda will also regulate and facilitate training exercises of a Party in the territory of another Party.

The signing of these two documents is a positive development not only for the military-diplomatic relationship, but also for the overall bilateral relationship between both countries.

This development also reflects the commitment of both Parties to take joint responsibility to solve regional security issues by the role the UK is prepared to play in augmenting our capacity to prepare our forces for peacekeeping operations in the Region and the Continent.

I Thank You.

Issued by: Ministry of Defence
2 August 2004