Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE VISIT OF TUNISIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MR SAID BEN MUSTAPHA FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN/TUNISIAN JOINT BILATERAL COMMISSION FROM 1-3 FEBRUARY 1999
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo emphasised the importance of expanding economic relations with Tunisia when, together with his Tunisian counterpart, Mr Said Ben Mustapha, he opened the Second Session of the South African-Tunisian Joint Bilateral Commission in Pretoria today. Minister Ben Mustapha is leading a delegation of senior government officials and Tunisian businesspeople on a visit to South Africa from 1-3 February 1999.
The Commission will examine the state of relations between the two countries, review projects and issues resulting from the first session's deliberations in Tunis in 1996. The two Ministers will also sign agreements in the fields of double taxation, science and technology, arts and culture and merchant shipping. A memorandum of understanding on geoscience will also be signed.
During his stay Minister Mustapha will also meet with the Minister of Defence Joe Modise and the Minister of Agriculture Mr Derek Hanekom. In a related development, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the important Tunisian port city of Sfax will travel to Durban to sign an agreement with his counterpart at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
South Africa remains committed to forging deeper political and economic relations with Tunisia, an important member of the 70 million-strong Mahgreb region in North Africa. The Mahgreb (which includes Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Libya), with its strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean basin, its increasingly progressive investment, trade and industrial policies coupled with its strong ties to the Arab world, offers many opportunities for South African commerce and industry.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 1 FEBRUARY 1999