7 March 2001
Your Excellencies
Distinguished members of the Nigeria and South African delegations
Ladies and Gentlemen
My first act following the presentation of my credentials on the morning of 4th October 1999 was to attend the Inaugural Session of the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission. The fact that the Sessions followed so quickly upon my presentation has always served as a graphic reminder to me of the need to make progress in our bilateral relationship.
The establishment and the performance of our Commission, and the strategic relationship that it presages, is the envy of many countries both from within and outside our Continent. Our special relationship originates in the common understanding and approach, and strategic synergy that exists between the leaders of our countries, Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo, and between Deputy President Jacob Zuma and Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
We, as officials in the service of our countries, and having been so directed by our highest Principals, would be falling in our duty were we to approach this Session in a manner that would ensure the results fall short of that which our Principals would desire. In many ways, there are those within and outside the Continent that would benefit from this Commission failing to achieve the challenging goals it has set for itself.
We face the challenge of a deteriorating situation in Africa, with increased threats to health, food security, human rights, democracy, good governance and stability to name merely a few issues that will be deliberated during our sessions. Presidents Mbeki, Obasanjo and Boutefika have been drafting the Millennium African Renaissance Programme (MAP), which will assist in devising Africa-originated programmes for African development.
Already, progress has been made in mainstreaming African developmental concerns in international fora and with the various international political groupings, both developed and developing. However, it is clear that we need to make more progress in conflict prevention, management and resolution. Our deliberations will assist us in devising appropriate strategies to achieve these important goals.
Over the period that we will be reviewing, our attention has not only focused on the broader international issues. During our deliberations we shall be examining a multitude of bilateral issues: We will be reviewing progress in the trade and commercial sectors, and devising strategies intended to facilitate, ease bureaucratic requirements and enhance the levels of bilateral trade.
In addition, we will be seeing to ensure increased co-operation in the minerals and energy sectors, to ensure appropriately increased and focused educational, cultural and sporting links. We will be generating and developing programmes designed to complement and enhance the scientific and technological co-operation that already exists, and to use our existing technologies and capacities, especially those in the communications sector, to the benefit of our peoples, and to support increased economic development.
I am sure that the focus of the appropriate working groups will be to generate mutual understanding and to develop the necessary strategies to ensure that these issues will be resolved in a mutually satisfactory and beneficial manner, one that will lead to increased co-operation and to enhanced trade and other relations. Mr Chairman, through you and on behalf of the entire South African delegation, I wish to thank the staff of the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the assistance that the South African delegation received. For this heart-warming, and traditional, Nigerian friendship and welcome, we are most gratified. I cannot help but feel that this auspicious beginning bodes well for the achievement of the goals established for this Third Session of the Bi-National Commission.
I thank you for your attention.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs