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Statement on the Working Visit to South
Africa by the Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
of Ukraine, Mr Volodymir Yelchenko, 7-9 March 2002
At the invitation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs of South Africa, Mr Aziz Pahad, and the Deputy
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr Volodymir
Yelchenko, will pay a working visit to South Africa
from 7 to 9 March 2002. The two Deputy Ministers will
hold political consultations during the course of 8
March. The political consultations flow from a Memorandum
of Understanding between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs
of South Africa and Ukraine that was signed in August
1997.
Relations between South Africa and Ukraine have evolved
within a distinct historical context and were influenced
by the quest of our peoples for freedom and justice.
Ukraine strongly supported South Africans in their struggles
for freedom, providing training and study opportunities
to the leadership element of South African liberation
movements. The end of the Cold War and the demise of
apartheid therefore provided a historic opportunity
to formalise diplomatic relations that were established
in March 1992.
Political relations are considered to be sound and
both sides concur that there is ample room for expanding
ties in various fields, especially as far as cooperation
in science and technology as well as increasing trade
are concerned.
The consultations between Deputy Ministers Pahad and
Yelchenko will cover both bilateral and multilateral
areas of cooperation as well as issues of mutual global
concern. Some of the aspects that will come under discussion
include:
· Development of bilateral relations
The most important events in bilateral relations was
the visit of the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. BI Tarasyuk, to South Africa in November 1998 and
the visit to Ukraine by Deputy President Zuma and his
delegation in 2000. The visits were both regarded as
successful as progress had been made in various fields.
The visits resulted in the finalisation and signing
of cooperation agreements: Science and Technology (including
a Geo-Science MOU); Trade and Culture. These were the
first intergovernmental agreements between South Africa
and Ukraine to deal with non-military relations as well
as the first to be signed since 1995. The inaugural
meeting of the Joint South African-Ukrainian Military
Commission also took place during Minister Tarasyuk's
visit paving the way for the identification of areas
of possible military-technical and military-industrial
cooperation between the two countries.
Subsequent interaction at officials' level has resulted
in good progress being made towards the expansion of
the legal base, including in the field of taxation and
tourism. It is expected that the business communities
from the two sides will increasingly become aware of
the opportunities that exist in each others' markets.
The political consultations between the two Deputy Ministers
will focus on creating a greater awareness of the potential
that exists.
- Developments in South Africa and NEPAD: Deputy Minister
Pahad will brief Deputy State Secretary Yelchenko
on the latest developments and the progress being
made regarding the African Union (AU) and the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
- Deputy State Secretary Yelchenko will brief his
South African counterpart on internal developments
in Ukraine, including the forthcoming Parliamentary
Elections scheduled for 31 March 2002, as well as
on Ukraine's views on developments in Europe and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
· Status of bilateral Agreements
a) Bilateral agreements signed:
1. Agriculture (1992)
2. Military and Technical Agreement (July 1995)
3. Defence Cooperation (July 1995)
4. Science and Technology (November 1998)
5. Trade (November 1998)
6. Culture (November 1998)
In addition, the following agreements also exist between
the two countries:
- · Memorandum of Understanding between the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of South Africa and
Ukraine
- Declaration of Intent between the Ministries of
Agriculture of South Africa and Ukraine
- Protocol of Friendship and Cooperation between the
cities of Pretoria and Kyiv
- Memorandum of Understanding: SA Council for Geosciences
and Ukrainian State Committee on Geology and Utilisation
of Mineral Resources
b) Bilateral agreements under consideration:
1. Avoidance of Double Taxation (ready for signature)
2. Mutual Cooperation in Customs Matters Agreement
(negotiations to commence in May 2002)
3. Protection of Investment Agreement (under consideration
by DTI)
4. Tourism Agreement (ready for signature)
5. Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
(under consideration by Ukraine)
6. Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology
(under consideration by DACST)
- Science and technology cooperation: A Programme
of Cooperation (POC) in the field of Science and Technology
is currently under consideration by the respective
South African and Ukrainian authorities. This POC
is aimed at establishing the exchange and cooperation
between the two countries in this field and is expected
to include the exchange of scientists. The Department
of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) will
negotiate this POC with its Ukrainian counterparts
on an expert level.
- International terrorism
- Peacekeeping
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082
990 4853
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
6 March 2002
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