"We should not underestimate the importance of UNICEF's contribution to the advancement of the interests of children in our country", Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo said in Pretoria today.
Minister Nzo made these remarks during a ceremony at the Union Buildings during which he handed over to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Permanent Representative to South Africa, Mr Jesper Morch, the Instrument of Ratification which will see the Basic Co-operation Agreement between the two parties formally come into effect. The Agreement embodies the terms under which UNICEF may operate in South Africa. Mr Morch also presented his credentials to Minister Nzo during the ceremony.
UNICEF has been involved in South Africa since 1992 in programmes geared towards maternal and child welfare and health. It has also provided technical assistance in the acceleration of projects such as immunization.
In 1996, UNICEF's Executive Board approved an amount of US$5 200 000 from general resources, subject to the availability of funds, and authorized an additional US$20 000 000 in supplementary funds, subject to specific purpose fundraising, for the programme of cooperation between the Government of South Africa and UNICEF during the period 1997 to 2001.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
8 MARCH 1999