Your Excellency, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria;
The Honourable Prime Minister Abdelamalek Sellal;
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Ambassadors
Senior Officials,

It is a great honour for me to once again visit our beloved People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for this State Visit and the very important meeting of the Binational Commission of Co-operation between our two countries.

I wish to thank you, Mr President, for your generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation.

It has been too long since we have had an opportunity to meet and convene the Binational Commission. We are eager to solidify our partnership.

Mr President we are here to further consolidate the historic bonds of friendship between our two countries.
The relations between our two countries are based on the solidarity and fraternal ties embedded over many decades that saw our peoples triumph over colonialism and apartheid.

Through the Binational Commission, we are able to consolidate the progress made and to initiate new projects and areas of co-operation.

Since the establishment of the Binational Commission, 33 agreements have been concluded while discussions are ongoing in the Technical Working Groups to negotiate other agreements or to review existing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).  

We are keen to strengthen the following areas of cooperation:
·         Science and Technology;
·         Arts and Culture;
·         Defence and Security; and
·         Trade and Investment.

Further opportunities for strengthened cooperation exist in the following areas:
·         Higher Education and Training;
·         Energy;
·         Mineral Resources;
·         Human Settlements and Public Works;
·         Communication and Information Technology;
·         Trade and Industry Minerals and Energy; and
·         Local Government.

The strong political relations between the two countries need to translate into greater economic cooperation.

South Africa and Algeria signed an Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement on the 24thof September 2000, which provides for the establishment of a Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC), to encourage trade between the two countries.
This mechanism will improve the coordination of bilateral trade.

Mr President, South African companies are ready to participate in the implementation of the Algerian Five Year National Investment Plan that is worth 286 billion US dollar and is in the main focused on Infrastructure Development.

Mr President we note with satisfaction the excellent cooperation between our two countries in promoting the objectives and programmes of the African Union (AU).

These include the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and supporting the AU’s Peace and Security Council in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on the continent.
Our two countries have collaborated in many spheres and have been in the forefront of promoting NEPAD, as Africa’s major development programme.

We congratulate Algeria for the efforts aimed at resolving the conflicts in Mali and Libya, as exemplified by the Algerian sponsored Inter-Malian Dialogue and the Algerian Initiative on Libya.

We would like to continue working with Algeria in order to operationalise the African Capacity for the Immediate Response to Crises structure.

We also welcome the fact that our two countries have common positions in multilateral forums.

We must work together to expedite the resolution of the issue of Western Sahara.

Such efforts should make it possible for the Saharawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.

We have noted with great concern the human rights violations in the occupied territory and urge the United Nations Secretary-General to consider the plight of the Saharawi people.

We are keen specifically to encourage the UN Security Council to consider broadening the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum on Western Sahara to include a human rights observer mechanism.

Mr President we are satisfied with the  progress being made towards the development of Agenda 2063 as we are already working towards the first 10 year implementation plan. 

We have noticed with concern the increase in subversive activities and terror on the continent, depicted by abductions and demands for ransom for the release of the victims.

We strongly condemn such activities, and take a resolved resolution to improve our co-operation both as African governments bilaterally and collectively in the African Union.

African governments should continue to improve co-operation in counter-terrorism and information sharing.

I would like to thank, you Mr President for your invitation.

We look forward to fruitful deliberations.

I thank you

Issued by The Presidency