Joint Communiqué Between the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and South Africa, 14 June 2002

At the invitation of Brother Colonel Muammar Al-Qaddafi, Leader of the Great Al-Fatah Revolution in the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, paid a State Visit to the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 12 –14 June 2002.

President Thabo Mbeki was accompanied by Mrs Zanele Mbeki; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar; Minister of Public Enterprises, Jeff Radebe; Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza; Minister of Intelligence, Lindiwe Sisulu; Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy, Susan Shabangu, Directors General Rev Frank Chikane, Sandile Nogxina, Tim Dennis and a business delegation.

During the visit Brother Leader Muammar Al-Qaddafi and President Thabo Mbeki held discussions and exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.

President Thabo Mbeki expressed SA’s appreciation for the moral, political and material support offered by the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the people of South African during the struggle against apartheid.

President Thabo Mbeki, further commended the relentless efforts of Brother Leader, among others, in encouraging unity of the African people which will culminate in the launch of the African Union.

Both Brother Leader Muammar Al-Qaddafi and President Thabo Mbeki stressed the need to work together with other African Countries to banish forever the ongoing conflicts and wars as a necessary step towards sustainable development, peace and security.

For his part, Brother Leader, expressed appreciation for the role played by President Mbeki leading to the formation of the AU, which will be launched in Durban, South Africa in July 2002.

Furthermore Brother Leader Muammar Al Qaddafi commended President Mbeki for the NEPAD initiative aimed at achieving sustainable development, peace and prosperity for the African Continent within the framework of the AU.

The Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya South Africa Joint Bilateral Commission lead Dr Ali Abdulssalam Al-Treki and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma reviewed the excellent bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields and expressed satisfaction with the progress made. The JBC considered mechanisms to strengthen economic, commercial and technical cooperation. In this regard both sides signed agreements on Trade, Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments and Merchant Shipping and Related Maritime Matters.

Both delegations resolved to consolidate cooperation on a number of areas at regional and international levels.

The two countries commended the recent visit to Palestine by the NAM Ministerial Delegation led by Minister Dlamini Zuma, to express solidarity with President Yasser Arafat and the people of Palestine.

Both sides expressed their outrage at an condemnation of the escalating violence by Israel, which they characterised as a threat to global peace and security. They endorsed the various UN Resolutions calling for the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied territories. The delegations reiterated their support for the Palestinian peoples right to self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state within secure borders. In this regard, the two sides stressed the need for the international community to work for peace.

Both countries condemned all forms of terrorism in all its manifestations. However, they cautioned against equating struggles for self-determination with terrorism. In this regard they emphasised the need for a UN-led process to develop an internationally acceptable definition of terrorism. They stressed the importance of dealing with the causes of terrorism namely poverty and under-development.

President Mbeki expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality accorded the South African delegation and extended an invitation to Brother Leader Muammar Al-Qaddafi to visit South Africa.

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