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Date
: 30/10/2002
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mbeki: State Banquet for President of Hellenic
Republic
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, MR THABO MBEKI, AT THE
STATE BANQUET IN HONOUR OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,
Cape Town, 30 October 2002
(Check against delivery)
Your Excellency, President Constantinos Stephanopoulus and
distinguished members of your delegation,
Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa,
Madame Speaker and Madame Chairperson of the National Council of
Provinces,
His Eminence the Patriarch of Alexandria and all-Africa,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Leaders of our political parties,
Premier of the Western Cape,
Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Cape Town,
Your Excellencies, the Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic
corps,
Leaders and members of the Greek community,
Friends, ladies and Gentlemen:
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you, Mr President, and
your delegation to our country. I trust that you will enjoy your
stay among us and see something of our country. I am certain that
Your Excellency's important visit will further strengthen the good
relations that exist between our countries as well as the relations
from people to people.
As you are aware, Mr President, our country and continent have made
the determination that this first century of the third millennium
should be an African Century. To achieve this objective, we have
spoken of the need for an African Renaissance.
Among other things, Mr President, this has drawn attention to the
ancient interaction between Africa and Greece that contributed so
much to the evolution and development of all humanity. Those
ancient times also continue to communicate the message that it is
both possible and necessary for Africa and Europe to co-operate for
the common good.
Inspired by the example handed down to us by our forebears, we meet
here in Cape Town united in our common determination to respond to
the demanding challenge to find new ways of accelerating the
process of achieving a better life for all, especially the millions
of poor people in our country, our continent and the rest of the
world.
In this regard, I am confident that when the Hellenic Republic
assumes the Presidency of the European Union next year, we will
have the important possibility to give further impetus to the joint
actions between Africa and Europe around the questions of the
all-round development of Africa and the poverty eradication, as
represented for instance, by NEPAD, the New Partnership for
Africa's Development.
In this regard, we were very pleased to hear that the Hellenic
Republic will ratify the South Africa-EU Trade, Development and
Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) before the end of this year. We trust
that this action will encourage all other EU Member States to
follow in your footsteps.
Speaking both for our country and the African Union, we look
forward keenly to the Africa-European Union Summit in Lisbon next
April, which will be chaired by your country, Mr President, and
trust that this important gathering will add greatly to the
deepening of the inter-continental partnership initiated at the
Cairo Summit.
In this regard, I am privileged to express our warm thanks to you,
Mr President, for the inspiring remarks you made earlier today,
when you addressed the Joint Sitting of our National Houses of
Parliament.
I would also like to take advantage of this occasion, Mr President,
to convey our deep appreciation of the role played by the Greek
population of our country to contribute to the transformation of
our country into a true common home for all our people, regardless
of race, colour, gender or historical origin.
These fellow South Africans also play an important role in further
strengthening the relations between our countries and
peoples.
I am very happy, Mr. President, that while you are here, you will
further encourage our Hellenic community to continue to play a
constructive role in the struggle for the reconstruction and
development of our country.
Your important visit to our country will make a significant
contribution to the further strengthening of our bilateral
relations for the benefit of both our countries and peoples.
This also relates to our ever-growing economic relations, which
have the possibility to expand further in all fields, including
trade, investment and technological cooperation. I am certain that
the seminar between the considerable business delegation
accompanying you, Mr President, and our own business people will
spur the further development of this bilateral economic
cooperation.
Your visit has also given us the possibility to continue our
dialogue on international and global matters of common concern.
Because our countries proceed from a shared value system, as
before, we have agreed on the major matters of the day.
These include the challenge of peace in Africa, the reunification
of Cyprus, the resolution of the conflict between Israel and
Palestine and the need for everybody to respect the view of the
nations of the world that the issue of Iraq can only be resolved by
and through the United Nations and its Security Council.
The criminal bombing campaign in Gauteng Province last night
confirms the need for our own people and the peoples of the world
to maintain their resolve to act against terrorism. I would also
like to assure you, Mr President, that the criminals responsible
for last night's incidents will not succeed to undermine or disrupt
the peace for our country and all our people for which many of our
people laid down their lives.
In conclusion I would like to say that we are excited that in 2004
the Olympic Games will go back to their original home, the Hellenic
Republic. Mr President, we will ensure that we send a strong
delegation of athletes so that they help further to deepen the
bonds of friendship among the youth and peoples of the world.
May I request that we all rise and drink a toast to the health of
His Excellency President Constantinos Stephanopoulus and friendship
between the peoples of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of
South Africa. To friendship!
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