Remarks by the Minister of Defence, Honourable Mosiuoa Lekota on the occasion of the visit to South Africa by the Defence Minister of Congo Brazzaville Honourable Jacques Yvon Ndolou, Pretoria

Minister of Defence, Jacques Yvon Ndolou
Director-General of Strategic Affairs and Military Co-operation, Col Paul Victor Moigny
Director of Foreign Relations and Military Co-operation, Capt (Navy) Albert Gangoue
Aide de camp of Minister, Mr Miantourila
Members of the Defence Staff Council
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

On behalf of the Republic of South Africa, I take the pleasure in welcoming you and your delegation to South Africa on this occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Co-operation between our two countries.

Honourable Jacques Yvon Ndolou, this historic day of our gathering is very critical as it paves the way for formal and consolidated Defence Forces. The gathering is also important to South Africa in its pursuance to strengthen the existing friendly relations between the governments, the countries and the peoples on the continent and beyond.

It is of strategic importance to sign the co-operation with Congo Brazzaville to ensure stability in the Great Lake Region's countries, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Stability of the countries in the Great Lake Region is important for all of us to sustain the peace and stability achieved in the DRC and its economic prospects thereof

Such co-operation, Minister is crucial to also embody the vision of common defence through enhanced harmonisation and interoperability amongst our forces. This will subsequently become the cornerstone to realise a combat-ready African Standby Force. We are indeed excited that our co-operation will play a meaningful role in ensuring that we respond appropriately with adequate skills to the United Nations and African Union peacekeeping missions.

It is paramount that we approach the signing of each co-operation with renewed zeal as it forms part of the process to synchronise unity in arms with an understanding that together as Africans will be able to achieve defence and security status to safeguard our interests and goals in the face of common threats.

Our co-operation today includes that we develop and formulate procedures for military cooperation between our respective Forces. It will also allow us to promote the training of military personnel through the exchange of trainees, instructors and observers. This is highly important because, we believe as members of the African Union that to generate an effective force, the same doctrine and function at the high standard of training that adheres to common operating procedures is essential.

It is very significant to ensure that the maintenance of common standards across the continent is upheld for the purpose of a coherent continental force. The co-operation will also set a platform for acquiring military equipments, enhance technical co-operation and co-operate in the fields of military medical services.

Together, we shall further advance the exchange of knowledge and training in the fields of United Nations and African Union Peacekeeping Operations. Certainly, we also seek to improve the exchange of military personnel at all levels to enhance sport and cultural links between Armed Forces.

By signing this co-operation, we are demonstrating the importance we attach to the relations between our two countries and our commitment to the formation and development of our defence relationship.

We are also affirming our relations that were established in March 1993 by recognising each other's legitimate security concerns and aspirations. I trust that, following the signing; we will witness heightened interaction and enhanced good defence working relations between our two countries.

And that going forward, the Defence Committee of the Republic of South Africa - Congo will ensure necessary implementation and management of this co-operation.
With these few words I wish to reiterate my gratefulness for the good course we are embarking on today.

I thank you.