Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Dr Vasily Pugachev to Pay a Working Visit to South Africa Sunday, 16th - Tuesday, 18th March 2003

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad will host his Belarus counterpart, Dr Vasily Pugachev on Monday, 17th March 2003 at the Diplomatic Guesthouse in Pretoria. Deputy Ministers Aziz Pahad and Dr Pugachev will lead their respective delegations to the second annual political consultations between South Africa and Belarus.

Issues on the agenda include: the enhancement of trade and economic, science and technology co-operation between South Africa and Belarus, the African Union, NEPAD, global security, conflict resolution with regard to Iraq and Palestine, cooperation in regional and global fora, and the co-ordination of NAM following the Malaysia Summit.

While in South Africa, Dr Pugachev will also meet with Dr Ben Ngubane, Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology as well as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Lindiwe Hendricks.

For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
16 March 2003

BACKGROUND

Diplomatic Relations

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Belarus were established in 1993 and the South African Ambassador to Warsaw had been non-residentially accredited to Minsk. For practical reasons a decision was made to change this representation to our Ambassador in Moscow. Ambassador Seekoe presented his credentials on 7 December 2001. Belarus opened an Embassy in South Africa during January 2000 and the first Ambassador presented his credentials to President Mbeki during February 2000.

South Africa and Belarus signed a Protocol on Co-operation between the respective Foreign Ministries, which in Article 1 stipulates that the respective Foreign Ministries will conduct on a regular basis, or when deemed necessary, bilateral talks and consultations. The Protocol was signed by Minister Dlamini Zuma and the Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Latypov, in Pretoria on 24 October 2000. The first annual consultations took place in Pretoria between the Acting Director-General and the Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr V Pugatchev during April 2002. The 2nd Annual Political Consultations will coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations.

Regular interaction between South Africa and Belarus has taken place during the past two years through various meetings at high level, especially since the establishment of a resident Embassy in Pretoria during February 2000:

· A South African delegation headed by Dr B Ngubane, Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, visited Belarus from 20 to 23 November 2002. During the visit the following Agreements were signed: An Intergovernmental Agreement on Scientific and Technological Co-operation, a Co-operation Agreement between the two Academies of Sciences and a Letter of Intent (to co-operate) between MINTEK and the Belarusian Institute of Physics and Organic Chemistry.
· Minister Essop Pahad visited Belarus from 16 to 18 September 2002
· Minister Dlamini Zuma met with Belarus Foreign Minister Khvostov during the COB of the NAM in Durban in April 2002;
· Deputy Minister Pahad and Acting Director-General Minty met with the Belarus Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Pugachev, in Pretoria during April 2002;
· Minister Dlamini Zuma met with Belarus Foreign Minister Khvostov during UNGA56 in November 2001;
· Deputy Foreign Minister Sychov led the Belarus delegation to WCAR in Durban in September 2001;
· Attendance by the Belarusian delegation of the XII Summit Conference of NAM in Durban in September 1998;
· Inter-Parliamentary meeting in Havana in April 2001;
· the visit to South Africa by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Dr. Ural Latypov in October 2000;
· Meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Cartagena (NAM) during April 2000.

The visit by the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof Latypov, during October 2000, resulted in the signing of a Trade and Economic Agreement as well as a Protocol on Co-operation between the Foreign Ministries. During his visit a Co-operation Agreement was also signed between the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs and the SA Foundation. The Belarusian State University and the University of Pretoria also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in terms of academic co-operation.

Furthermore, an Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation has been negotiated between the relevant authorities and signed in Minsk by the South African Ambassador in Moscow, Dr MJ Seekoe, in November 2002 on behalf of the South African Government.

Enhancement of trade and economic co-operation;

In terms of official interaction at the political level between South Africa and Belarus, relations can be described as good. The potential for economic development and interaction with South Africa remains significant, and has, and still could present South African businesses with excellent opportunities.

The signing in November 2002 of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement should, however, stimulate business activities between the two countries. The Department of Trade and Industry is also considering a Mutual Protection of Investment Agreement.

Current bilateral trade as per Belarusian 2001 statistics is US$ 10 million. South African imports of potassium fertilisers (main import), refrigerators, flax fabrics and spare truck and tractors parts amount to US$ 6 Million. Belarus also exports fully assembled low cost agricultural tractors and large dump trucks for the mining industry. South African exports of diamonds, veneer sheets, organic chemicals, vehicle spare parts and capital goods amounted to US$ 4 Million.

Enhancement of science and technology co-operation;

The following Agreements and a Letter of Intent were signed on Friday, 22 November 2002 at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus:

· Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of South Africa on co-operation in Science and Technology;
· Agreement between the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Academy of Science of South Africa; and
· Letter of Intent between the Belarus Institute of Physical Organic Chemistry and the South African Science Council MINTEK.

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED

i. Exchange of Notes for the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations at the Ambassadorial level - 1993;
ii. Programme of Co-operation between the Belarusian State University and the University of Pretoria - 23 Oct 2000;
iii. Memorandum of Understanding between the South Africa Foundation and the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers - 23 Oct 2000;
iv. Protocol on Co-operation between the Dept of Foreign Affairs of South Africa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus - 23 Oct 2000;
v. Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation - November 2002;
vi. Agreement on Co-operation in the Fields of Science and Technology - 23 Nov 2002;