Date: 26/05/2010
Source: The Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Title: SA: Nkoana-Mashabane: Closing remarks by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, at the fifth session of the South Africa-Algeria Bi National Commission of Cooperation, Algiers

Honourable, Mr Mourad Medelci, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria
Honourable ministers and
Ladies and gentlemen
Allow me to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to you personally for the hospitality accorded to me and the rest of our delegation during our stay in Algiers. I also wish to thank all the ministers and all the officials from both countries for making this Bi-National Commission a success.
In keeping with the spirit of solidarity and amity that has always characterised our relations, our deliberations were conducted in a convivial and conducive atmosphere.
I am convinced that the outcomes of our deliberations will take our bilateral relations to a new level guided by the wise and visionary leadership of His Excellency Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa and His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria.
Later today we will witness the signing of agreements and a programme of action, which are a testimony of the expansion of relations.
Honourable minister, our two sides have a responsibility to translate all the commitments and undertakings we have made here over the last two days into tangible and concrete projects that will contribute to the development of our two countries for a better life for our people.
In this regard, Minister Medelci and I will constitute a follow-up mechanism that will assess, monitor, and evaluate progress and plan for future sessions of the BNC.
Mr Foreign Minister, I wish once more to express our thanks and gratitude to the government and the people of Algeria for graciously hosting this session of the Bi-National Commission, which is another giant step in our relations.
In this we look forward to receiving you in South Africa on the occasion of the BNC at a date that will be determined through the diplomatic channel.
We look forward to welcoming the Greens as well as their enthusiastic and colourful supporters on our shores for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and we wish them well in the tournament.
Sucran! (Pronounced as shucran)
I thank you.