STATEMENT ON DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VISIT TO THE UK

8 March 2001

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Aziz Pahad, completed a working visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain from 4-6 March 2001.

Mr Pahad held discussions with the UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth, Mr Brian Wilson (who has succeeded Mr Peter Hain, the current Minister of State for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe) on several issues, including:

• Millennium African Recovery Programme (MAP). At the last UNGA and Okinawa Summit, Prime Minister Tony Blair committed the UK to specific development targets in the developing world and in support of the MAP.
• The situation in the DRC, Angola and Zimbabwe;
• The diamond industry and the regulation of illicit diamond trade from conflict areas, or so-called "conflict diamonds". SA and the UK are jointly contributing to UK efforts to eradicate the funding of conflicts, particularly in Africa, through illegal trade in diamonds, as well as efforts to protect the legitimate diamond industry. The process, which started at the Kimberley conference, currently aims at a detailed examination of existing national import and export controls and certification schemes relating to the internaional trade in rough diamonds.
• Middle East Peace Process;
• Iraq;
• President Mbeki's forthcoming State Visit to the UK. President Mbeki will undertake a State Visit at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen from 12 to 15 June. The visit will consolidate the existing good bilateral relations between SA and the UK and explore further areas of bilateral and multilateral co-operation, especially in African initiatives. The annual SA Bilateral Forum, through which mechanism co-operation on these issues is furthered, will take place during the State Visit and will involve participation by a variety of SA Ministers and their UK counterparts.
• Investment promotion in South Africa and increased trade links. The UK consistently remains one of SA's most significant trade partners, with bilateral trade last year estimated at over R33 billion, showing a positive trade balance in the first eight months of around R5,5 billion in SA's favour. Britain moreover continues to be SA's largest single foreign investor.
• The Deputy Minister received a briefing on Celebrate South Africa, a joint venture between government and the private sector, to be launched in the UK in May. The campaign emphasises SA as an attractive trade and investment destination and the showcases SA's excellence in tourism, arts culture and science and technology innovation. It will culminate in the reopening of the refurbished South Africa House of Trafalgar Square.

Discussions were also held with the Chief of Cabinet in Prime Minister Tony Blair's Office, Mr John Saywer, as well as the following senior officials of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office;

• The Director for the Middle East, Mr Alan Goulty;
• The Director for Iraq, Mr Pattey Williams;
• The Director for Africa, Mr Mark Lyle Grant.

All parties to the discussions committed themselves to continue substantial and strategic bilateral consultations on a broad range of issues, including multilateral matters.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs Pretoria

Contact Person: Mr R Mamoepa