Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
5 February 2002
South Africa will continue to receive a high priority in terms of Iran's Foreign Policy imperatives, said Iran's First Vice President, Dr Mohammed Reza Arref.
The Vice President was holding a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma who is leading a senior government and private sector delegation to the 6th Session of the SA-Iran Joint Commission which began on Monday, 4 February in Tehran.
The Minister briefed the Vice President of the progress made thus far in expanding political, economic and trade links between Pretoria and Tehran since the establishment of the Joint Commission.
The Vice President expressed the hope that relations between the two countries will continue to expand even at multilateral levels including the consolidation of the South-South Cooperation
Both the Vice President and the Minister reiterated the commitment of both Iran and SA to fight against terrorism within an internationally acceptable definition of terrorism.
The vice president reaffirmed Iran's support for South Africa's hosting of the World Sustainable Development Conference scheduled for Johannesburg later this year.
Minister Dlamini Zuma also briefed the Vice President of the mobilisation of the International Community behind NEPAD as a basis for Africa's development.
For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 09 98 211 2129792 or Basetsane Thokoane on 083 443 4470.