Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
JOINT COMMUNIQUE
AT THE END OF THE WORKING VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY MR THABO MBEKI, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE REPUBLIC OF MALI
(Bamako 6, 7 July 1997)
On invitation of His Excellency Mr Alpha Oumar KONARE, President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Mr Thabo MBEKI, Deputy-President of the Republic of South Africa paid a working visit to Mali, from July 6th to July 7th 1997.
During his stay, the Deputy-President of the Republic of South Africa had talks with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Mr Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA.
DUring this visit, the Deputy-President of the Republic of South Africa was received by His Excellency Mr Alpha Oumar KONARE, President of the Republic of Mali to whom he gave a message of friendship and brotherhood sent to him by His Excellency Mr Nelson MANDELA, President of the Republic of South Africa.
During the various talks, the South African and Malian sides examined the ways and means to strengthen the bilateral cooperation at the political and economic levels. They talked about the political situation in Africa and in the world.
A working session was held by the South African and Malian delegations, chaired respectively by the South African Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Malian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Malians Abroad.
The following people took part in this session: On the South African side:
1- HE Mr Aziz PAHAD, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
2- Reverend Frank CHIKANE, Director General office of the vice President.
3- Makhaya N. MOSIA, South African Ambassador in Mali.
4- Mr Ricky NAIDOO, Adviser.
5- Mlle Nomsa NGAKANE, Special secretary of the Vice-President.
On the Malian side:
1- HE Mr Dioncounda TRAORE, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Malians Abroad.
2- Mr Mohammed El Madani DIALLO, Secretary General of the President's Office.
3- HE Mr Noumou DIAKITE, Secretary general of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Malians Abroad.
4- Mr Ibrahim KONATE, Director of Cabinet of the Prime Minister.
5- Mr Ousmane TANDIA, Mali's charge d'affaires in South Africa.
6- HE Mr Mainadou Bandiougou DIAWARA, Diplomatic Adviser of the Prime Minister.
7- Mr Sekouba CISSE, Legal Adviser of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Malians Abroad.
8- Mr Mohamed Mahmoud BENLABAT, Political Adviser of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Malians Abroad.
9- Mr Mamady TRAORE, Director of the International Cooperation.
10- Mr Al Maamoun KEITA, Director of the political Department.
11- Mr Foune' SYLLA, Deputy Director of Legal and consular Department.
12- Mr Birama SANGARE, Head of the Bilateral Cooperation Division.
13- Mrs SAMAKE Kadiatou SIDIBE, Head of the Translation and Interpretation Office.
14- Monsieur Kassim CAMARA, in charge of South Africa dossier (Political Department).
15- Monsieur Bocary BOCOUM, in charge of South Africa dossier (Directorate of International cooperation).
During that meeting, the two sides carried out a thorough examination of the development and perspectives of their bilateral relationships.
The South African side commented on the situation in the Republic of South Africa including politic al, economic and social plans.
In this respect, it recalled an unwavering support given by Mali to the heroic struggle of the South African people against apartheid.
It also expressed the wish to profit from the Malian democratic experience.
At the level of bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed on the need to establish a Joint Commission of economic and technical cooperation in order to activate and diversify the relationship between the two countries, in the following fields: - minerals, - rural development and environment, - urbanisation and housing, - water affairs and energy, - air transportation, - industries, - trade and investment, - crafts and tourism, - education and training.
In examining the economic situation in Africa, the two sides reaffirmed their determination to work for the achievement of African integration in conformity with the relevant provisions of Abuja Agreement establishing the African Economic Community.
At the political level, the two sides expressed their deep concern at the persistance of hot beds on the continent. To this effect, they reitrated their willingness to support any efforts aiming at creating an environment favourable to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and to support the capacities of the OAU.
They also expressed their support for the idea of creating an African capacity to deal with conflict resolution and peacekeeping under the auspices of the UN and OAU.
About the situation in Sierra Leone, the two sides reiterated their disapproval to the coup perpetrated against the democratically elected regime of President KABAH. They expressed their full support for the decisions made by the 33rd summit of OAU Head of States and Governments (Harare, June 1997) and the ECOWAS Extraordinary ministerial session on that issue (Conakry, June 1997).
Regarding the crisis in Congo Brazzaville, the two sides reaffirmed their support to the initiatives aimed at putting an end to the conflict namely that of the international mediation committee and called on all the warring factions to stop the hostilities immediately, and the starting of talks on the resolution of this crisis.
About the international political situation, the two sides expressed their appreciation to the excellent cooperation existing between the two countries within UN, OAU and the Non-Aligned Movement.
They underlined the need to undertake a restructuring of the UN system inter-alia at the levels of the Security Council and Development Agencies in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the 33rd Summit of OAU Heads of States and governments (Harare 02-04 June 1997).
Concerning the forthcoming Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement's Heads of States and Governments to be held in 1998 in the Republic of South Africa, the two sides stressed the vital role that this large grouping should continue to play in international affairs in view of the challenges imposed by globalisation.
The South African Delegation also briefed the meeting on its bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games in Cape Town. Both parties agreed that this bid was an African one and would contribute to the renaissance.
At the end of his visit, His Excellency Mr Thabo MBEKI, Deputy-President of the Republic of South Africa expressed his sincere thanks to His Excellency Alpha Oumar KONARE, President of the Republic of Mali, to the Government and the People of Mali for the warm and brotherly welcome extended to himself and to his delegation.
His Excellency Mr Thabo MBEKI, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa to pay a friendly and working visit to the Republic of South Africa.
The invitation was accepted with pleasure and the date will be agreed upon later through diplomatic channels
Done at Bamako on 7th July 1997
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF MALI FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
HE MR DIONCOUNDA TRAORE HE MR AZIZ PAHAD
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 7 JULY 1997