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Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota,
Signed a Defence Co-Operation Agreement and Memorandum
of Understanding on the Integration Process of the Armed
Forces with the Minister of Defence, Demobilisation
and Veterans, J.P. Ondekane, from the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Pretoria, 18 June 2004
Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota, signed a Defence
Co-operation Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding
on the integration process of the armed forces in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with his counterpart
from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Minister of Defence,
Demobilisation and Veterans, J.P. Ondekane, in Pretoria
today.
Bilateral relations between the Government of the Republic
of South Africa and the Government of the DRC has developed
positively to the stage where the two governments have
decided to formalise this close relationship by means
of the signing of a Defence Cooperation Agreement.
DEFENCE CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT
Recent developments in the military diplomatic environment
necessitates the formalisation of this relationship
by means of the signing of a bilateral agreement that
will regulate and facilitate defence cooperation in
the following areas:
1. Military training including Peace Mission training;
2. Acquisition and procurement of defence equipment;
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3. Cartography;
4. Technical cooperation;
5. Military health services;
6. Sport and cultural links;
7. Other areas that would promote closer military cooperation.
The abovementioned cooperation will be facilitated
by means of high-level visits from both Parties, the
exchange of official military and industrial delegations
from both Parties as well as the attendance of military
courses by members of the Armed Forces of both Parties.
The Defence Committee of the Republic of South Africa
and the DRC, a Technical Committee of the Joint Bilateral
Commission established in terms of the General Cooperation
Agreement between the two Parties, will be responsible
to implement and manage this agreement.
The signing of this bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement
is an important step to formalise the unfolding bilateral
relationship between the two parties. It is furthermore
an important supporting agreement of the General Cooperation
Agreement between the Government of Republic of South
Africa and the Government of the DRC.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of
Defence of the Republic of South Africa and the Ministry
of Defence of the Democratic Republic of Congo on practical
assistance to the Government of the Democratic Republic
of Congo on the integration of the armed forces of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo in accordance with
the terms of the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed
between them.
1. Following the unfolding peace process in the DRC,
the Government of the DRC has requested the Government
of the Republic of South Africa to provide assistance
with the integration and training of members of the
Armed Forces of the DRC.
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2. The aim of this MOU is to provide for the rendering
of assistance by the Department of Defence of the Republic
of South Africa to the Armed Forces of the DRC concerning
the integration and training of the Armed Forces of
the Receiving State.
3. In this MOU the rendering of assistance and advice
by the Department of Defence of the Republic of South
Africa to the Armed Forces of the DRC regarding integration
and training will include:
(a) The provision of advice and assistance on policy
and planning concerning the integration of the Armed
Forces of the DRC;
(b) The provision of advice and assistance in close
collaboration with the Military Integration Structure
of the Congolese Armed Forces as agreed upon in Memoranda
I and II, in the following areas:
(i) Identification;
(ii) Assembling; and
(iii) Selection.
Ends
Issued by: Vuyo Zambodla
Head of Communication: Chief Director
Ministry of Defence
Tel: +27 12 355 5663
Cell: 083 645 4294
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