Minister Dlamini Zuma to Host British Secretary of State Jack Straw

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will host her British counterpart, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for a bilateral discussion aimed at consolidating relations between South Africa and the UK in Pretoria and Cape Town on Tuesday and Wednesday 13-14 May 2003 respectively.

The bilateral discussions between Minister Dlamini Zuma and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in Pretoria on Tuesday 13 May will focus among others on the political and economic situation in Southern Africa in particular and the continent of Africa in general.

In this regard, the discussions will look into the peace and security initiatives in the Great Lakes, NEPAD, the AU and the relationship between Africa and the G8.

The meeting will also discuss developments in the Middle East including the recently unveiled Road Map as the proposed way forward out of the current conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis. In addition the bilateral meeting will discuss developments in Iraq and the global multilateral system of governance.

The South African Government delegation to the bilateral meeting will include Deputy Ministers Joyce Mabudafhasi, Mosibudi Mangena, Aziz Pahad and Foreign Affairs Acting Director-General Abdul Minty while the British delegation will include Ministers Baroness Valerie Amos, Stephen Twigg and Michael Meacher.

Both Minister Dlamini Zuma and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will attend the memorial service in honour of the late ANC veteran and leader Walter Sisulu at the Pretoria City Hall on Tuesday 13 May 2003.

On Wednesday 14 May 2003, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, accompanied by Minister Dlamini Zuma, will pay a courtesy call on President Thabo Mbeki at Tuynhuis, Cape Town. The two ministers will then finalise their bilateral discussions before the Foreign Secretary and his delegation departs for London.

For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
11 May 2003

BACKGROUND

COUNTRY PROFILE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
GOVERNMENT AND REPRESENTATION:

Head of State : HM Queen Elizabeth II
Head of Government : Rt. Hon Tony Blair, MP
(Prime Minister)
Deputy Prime Minister : Rt. Hon John Prescott, MP
Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs : Rt. Hon Jack Straw, MP
Sceretary of State for
International Development : Rt. Hon Clare Short, MP
SOUTH AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE
High Commissioner, Ms. Lindiwe Mabuza
UNITED KINGDOM REPRESENTATIVE
High Commissioner, Ms. Ann Grant
PROFILE
General
Government : Constitutional Monarchy
Total Area : 244,820 sq. km
Population : 59,778,002
Language(s) : English, Welsh, Scottish (form of Gaelic)
Cli Climate : Temperate moderated by prevailing Southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Religions : Anglican, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Presbyterian, Methodist, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish
Currency : British Pound
Capital : London
Natural Resources : Coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, Salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land

THE ECONOMY
GDP : Agriculture : 1%
Industry : 25%
Services : 74%
Inflation : 2.1%
Population below poverty line : 17%
Unemployment rate : 5.2%

RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
Bilateral relations between South Africa and the United Kingdom are strong across the board, covering fields as diverse as defence, trade liberalisation, development and HIV/Aids. The frequent high level visits in both directions underlines this.

Relations between South Africa and the United Kingdom have strengthened since 1997, leading to the establishment of the South Africa/United Kingdom Bilateral Forum during then Deputy President Mbeki's visit to London in November 1997.

The second meeting of the Forum took place in Pretoria on 7 January 1999 with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair's visit to South Africa. During this visit Blair described the relations between the United Kingdom and South Africa as "at an all time high". Blair, in his owns words set out "to build a special UK/SA partnership for the 21st century".

Prime Minister Blair reiterated that the United Kingdom is committed to strengthening its support for South Africa's efforts to overcome the legacy of apartheid and to reintegrate its economy into the world. Blair said he welcomed not only economic co-operation, but also the strengthening of the political relationship and that the two Governments were able to work closely alongside each other.

Duríng Prime Minister Blair's visit, he reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to work towards the conclusion to the negotiations for an EU/South Africa Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement. (Eventually signed in October 1999). Mr. Blair emphasised that he wants the United Kingdom to be South Africa's advocate and friend in the European Union.

There was a strong commitment by the UK government to support initiatives on the continent and to assist SA in its programmes, which contribute to NEPAD. Both countries are working together on a range of International issues and are promoting their common views on human rights and democracy as well as the need for wide international efforts to prevent conflicts and threats such as those posed by crime, drugs and environmental degradation.

TRADE BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
South African exports to the United Kingdom : R27, 568, 126, 000 (2002)
South African imports from the United Kingdom : R25, 117, 075, 000 (2002)
The United Kingdom remains one of South Africa's most important economic partners in the fields of trade, investment, financial services and tourism, and one of South Africa's biggest export markets.
The top five commodities the United Kingdom is exporting to South Africa are: Non-metallic minerals, office machines, road vehicles, telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and medicinal and pharmaceutical products. South Africa's top five commodities for export to the United Kingdom are Non-metallic minerals, coal, coke and briquettes, road vehicles, vegetables and fruit and non-ferrous metals.

TOURISM
South Africa is an attractive tourist destination for potential British tourists. According to SATOURISM visiting tourists from the United Kingdom increased from 277, 194 to 338, 853 for the period January to October 2001 to the same period in 2002. An increase of 61, 659 tourists or 22,2% over the period.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The UK's stated policy, with regard to Africa is to work with the respective governments in order to see an African continent which takes it rightful place in a globalised world: tackling inequalities in health and education; creating an enabling environment for trade and investment, and achieving high standards of political and economic government.

SUMMARY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS SIGNED BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM SINCE 1994
An Extradition Agreement has been established between South Africa as a Commonwealth country and Britain. An Agreement relating to The Promotion and Protection of Investments was signed in September 1994. Memorandum on Bilateral Development Co-operation between the United Kingdom and South Africa was signed in 1994. In February 1995, a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Co-operation was signed.

In February 1995 a Science and Technology Research Fund was also established. A Defence Co-operation Agreement was signed in March 1996. Then Deputy President Mbeki and British Prime Minister, Tony Blair signed a Declaration of Intent on Industrial Co- operation in January 1999.