Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
A delegation comprising senior South African Government and parastatal officials visited the Islamic Republic of Iran from 25 to 30 October 1998 in pursuance of a decision reached during the Third Session of the Bilateral Joint Commission held in Pretoria on 3 and 4 November 1997.
The delegation was led by Mrs TE Mazibuko, the Department of Foreign Affairs' Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Middle East and included Dr NC Manganyi, Director-General of the Department of Education as well as officials of the Departments of Health and Mineral and Energy Affairs. Parastatals represented in the delegation were the Council for Geoscience, Transwerk and Spoornet (respectively the manufacturing and railway divisions of the national transportation company), the Agricultural Research Council and SASOL Fibres (a joint venture between SASOL and the Industrial Development Corporation).
The Foreign Ministry's Director-General for Africa, Mr Javid Gorban Oghli, hosted the delegation. Mrs Mazibuko was received by Mrs Zahra Shojaie, Presidential Adviser on Women's Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Sadr, Deputy Foreign Minister Kharrazi and Deputy Commerce Minister Vahadji.
In addition to assessing the status of bilateral relations, measures through which ties could be expanded were considered. Specific attention was afforded to promotion of trade by means of countertrade, joint ventures and technology transfers.
A wide range of regional, international and multilateral issues were also discussed including the Southern Africa Development Community's intervention in Lesotho, the continuing conflicts in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the situation in Afghanistan, latest developments in the Middle East, the principle of dialogue between civilizations, combat of traffic in illicit narcotics as well as increased South-South co-operation.
Dr Manganyi had meetings with Higher Education Minister Moin, Deputy Education Minister for Research Farhoody, Deputy Education Minister for Student Affairs Milimonfared and the Chancellors of Tehran and Tabatabai Universities. During these meetings exploratory yet, constructive talks on co-operation in respect of higher education and scientific research were held. Officials of the respective Health Ministries identified co-operation possibilities in the fields of primary health care and production of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
Mining and Energy sector officials identified co-operation possibilities in the areas of mining policies, privatization, training, mine safety and environmental protection. The South African Council of Geoscience and the Geological Survey of Iran were able to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Scientific and Technical Co-operation in the Geosciences.
Transnet representatives and their Iranian counterparts identified co-operation possibilities in the areas of maintenance and refurbishment of locomotive engines as well as sharing of expertise pertaining to technical innovations in freight handling.
Agricultural experts identified numerous opportunities for co-operation with respect to crop and livestock production, fruit technology and exchanges of genetic material.
SASOL Fibres concluded a number of agreements with their Iranian counterparts, in both the Government and private sectors, in terms of which they will continue to supply their products to Iran. Training, research and exchange of technology were identified as important elements of possible future co-operation in all sectors that were discussed during the visit.
ISSUED JOINTLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE MINISTRY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN PRETORIA 29 OCTOBER 1998