Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, met with his Iranian counterpart, Dr Sayeed Sadris, in Pretoria today. Dr Sadris is on a three day working visit to South Africa.
The discussions centred on bilateral issues, particularly the promotion of trade and cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, Deputy Minister Pahad announced that an inter-departmental team of technical experts would be visiting Iran later in the year to identify areas for cooperation between the two countries. This decision had been taken he said in light of the burgeoning trade relationship between South Africa and Iran, which last year topped R5 billion, which makes Iran South Africa's largest trading partner in the region.
This trade is still heavily in Iran's favour Deputy Minister Pahad said, and "both sides have agreed that this is what the technical team will address".
The talks also focussed on the forthcoming OAU Summit, regional developments in both the Middle East and Southern Africa as well as the upcoming NAM Summit to be hosted by South Africa from 29 August - 3 September 1998.
Dr Sadris also used the opportunity to brief Deputy Minister Pahad on the recent arrangement concluded by the United States of America and the European Union on the extra-territorial effects of the D'Amato Bill, which seeks to sanction third country companies trading with Iran.
Dr Sadris who is in South Africa at the invitation of Deputy Minister Pahad will attend the reception to be held by Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo in honour of Africa Day this evening and will meet with Minister Nzo tomorrow morning.
He will also be travelling to Cape Town for meetings with senior Government officials including Speaker Frene Ginwala and Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim MP.
ISSUED BY DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 25 MAY 1998