Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad to pay Official Visit to Croatia, Friday, 17 - Saturday, 18 September 2004

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad will, on conclusion of the visit to Romania travel to Croatia where he will pay an official visit from Friday, 17 - Saturday, 18 September 2004.

While in Croatia, Deputy Minister Pahad will have bilateral political and economic discussions with his counterpart, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidajet Bišcevic.

Deputy Minister Pahad is also expected to pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Miomir Žužul and meet with business leaders.

Issues on the agenda will include, among others:

• Bilateral political and economic relations;
• Operationalisation of the African Union and its institutions including the Pan-African Parliament which has been officially inaugurated in its permanent South African home today, 16 September 2004; the Peace and Security Council; and the African Court of Justice;
• The implementation of NEPAD as the socio-economic programme of the African Continent;
• Attempts by the African leadership to create the conditions for peace, security and stability on the African continent, viz the situation in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and others;
• Economic and political integration in the European Union following its enlargement;
• The Middle East Peace Process and developments in Iraq following the handover of sovereignty to a transitional Iraqi government;
• The global fight against terrorism; and
• The reform of the global exercise of governance, viz, the United Nations and all its institutions including the Security Council, the International Monetary Fund.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Statistics indicate that South African/Croatian bilateral trade in 2003 amounted to US$21,0 million. South African exports amounted to US$18,6, million consisting mainly of mineral products including coal, iron ore, fruits and granite. The corresponding export figure in 2002 was US$22,4 million.
Two South African companies are involved in Croatia in demining operations on a commercial basis. A Croatian company is in the process of investing in the granite sector in South Africa. Discussions will also look at the possibility of the Croatian port of Rijeka being used by South African companies as a gateway to neighbouring Central European countries.

Deputy Minister Pahad again stressed the tremendous economic opportunities (trade, investment, and tourism) that exist in East and Central Europe and again called on the South African private sector and parastatals to investigate and exploit these opportunities in the best interests of a symbiotic bilateral relationship between countries.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

16 September 2004