JOINT SA/UK COMMUNIQUE FOLLOWING VISIT OF PETER HAIN

6 February 2000

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs

On the invitation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad, Peter Hain, the British Minister for Africa, paid an official visit to South Africa from 31 January to 5 February 2000. During his visit, Mr Hain held talks inter alia with Deputy President Jacob Zuma, former President Nelson Mandela, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Dlamini Zuma, the Minister in the Office of the President, Essop Pahad, the Minister of Education, Professor Kadar Asmal and several opposition leaders. He also addressed a joint sitting of the Portfolio Committees on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry and the Select Committee on Economic Affairs.

The discussions were marked by a high level of agreement on key bilateral and foreign policy issues. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Deputy President Zuma and Mr Hain discussed developments in South Africa and the region. The Deputy President welcomed the support of United Kingdom in South Africa's endeavours to bring peace and stability to conflict areas in the region.

In the talks between Mr Hain and Deputy Minister Pahad, the two sides agreed on a number of concrete steps to give further practical content to the relationship between the two countries:

• Deputy Minister Pahad and Mr Hain welcomed the excellence of bilateral relations between the two countries and looked forward to a successful Bilateral Forum meeting, chaired by President Thabo Mbeki and Prime Minister Tony Blair, later in the year. The meeting will focus on key areas of cooperation between South Africa and the UK inter alia trade and investment, education and safety and security. The two Ministers agreed that they would aim to meet at least twice a year to take forward practical cooperation on bilateral and international issues.
• Both Ministers agreed that South Africa offered strong opportunities for further British investment and that this would also help create jobs in South Africa. Deputy Minister Pahad expressed his appreciation to Minister Hain for the positive message on economic prospects and opportunities in South Africa, which he delivered in his address to the South African Institute of International Affairs earlier this week.
• Both Ministers welcomed the holding of successful democratic elections in Africa recently and reaffirmed that the adherence to democratic values, human rights and good governance were vital preconditions for peace, sustainable development and prosperity in Africa.
• Both Governments were deeply concerned by the continuing tragic war in Angola and by the growing humanitarian crisis in that country. They agreed to step up endeavours to find a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict in Angola.
• Both Ministers underlined their commitment to achieving full compliance with sanctions against UNITA in accordance with UN Resolutions. They agreed to further share information about reported breaches of sanctions and to find ways to close the operations of those individuals and companies who are making money from the misery of the Angolan people. Both South Africa and the United Kingdom are already cooperating with the UN Panel of Experts on Angola Sanctions Committee chaired by Mr Robert Fowler. In fact, both South Africa and the UK are currently members of the Expert Panel on Angola Sanctions.
• Deputy Minister Pahad and Mr Hain welcomed the progress made in recent meetings in New York on the DRC. Both countries fully supported the Lusaka Agreement and urged all parties to comply with its terms. Observance of the Agreement would allow an early UN Resolution, which would pave the way for the rapid deployment in the DRC of United Nations peace-keepers. South Africa and the United Kingdom are giving practical support to the peace process and remain willing to do more as long as the parties to the Agreement demonstrate their commitment to it.
• Both sides welcomed the determined efforts of Mr Nelson Mandela to facilitate agreement between the parties to the Arusha talks on Burundi. Mr Hain pledged the British government's full support for Mr Mandela's peace efforts.
• The two sides discussed a range of other regional issues. They agreed that both countries would work together closely on these issues, particularly in the United Nations context. The British Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, would visit South Africa before the end of February to take this forward.
• The Ministers also discussed a number of multilateral issues including the future of the Commonwealth, non-proliferation (including of small arms) and the EU/South Africa Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement. They agreed that these and other global issues should be the subject of further talks in the near future among senior officials.

JOINTLY Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs AND THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION IN Pretoria
Pretoria
06 FEBRUARY 2000