Minster Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to Host the First Session of the South African - Mali Joint Commission of Co-operation (JCC), Pretoria, 10 - 11 August 2004

PRETORIA-South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is expected to host her Malian counterpart, Minister Moctar Ouane, for the First Session of the South Africa - Mali Joint Commission of Co-operation (JCC) at the Sheraton Hotel and Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria respectively from Tuesday -Wednesday 10-11 August 2004.

The JCC was established in terms of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Mali on the establishment of a Joint Commission of Co-operation (JCC) signed between the two countries in December 2000. The JCC provides both countries with a mechanism through which they can identify joint projects aimed at strengthening economic and political co-operation.

While this will be the first session of the JCC, substantial progress has already been made with regard to bilateral co-operation since the State Visit to Mali by President Thabo Mbeki in November 2001. These include progress in the fields of minerals and energy, transport, arts and culture, science and technology, health, sport and agriculture. This has resulted in the following agreements between South Africa and Mali:

• Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Commission of Co-operation (December 2000)
• Agreement on bilateral consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries (December 2000)
• Bilateral Air Services Agreement (July 2002)
• MOU on Bilateral Co-operation in the fields of Sport and Recreation (November 2001)
• Agreement on the preservation of the Ancient Manuscripts at the IHERI-AB in Timbuktu (August 2002).

This session will therefore serve to consolidate the progress made thus far in these areas.

Other areas of discussion will include:

• The situation in Cote d'Ivore
• The AU charter on Gender
• Operationalisation of the Peace and Security Council
• The Pan African Parliament

Background

South Africa and Mali have close bilateral relations, which are characterised by contact at the highest political level. Diplomatic relations between the two countries was established on 16 May 1994.

South Africa has assisted Mali in the area of health through the funding of part of the expenses of the Cuban Medical Brigade that has been working in rural areas of Mali since 2000.

In January 2002, South Africa contributed substantially towards helping Mali to host the African Cup of Nations Tournament. South Africa made a financial donation as well as a substantial in-kind donations related to transportation needs during the Tournament. This assistance, helped to further seal the bonds of friendship which exist between the two countries.

The Timbuktu Manuscripts Project followed a commitment made by President Mbeki during his State Visit to Mali in November 2001, when he pledged South African support towards improving the preservation of these historical manuscripts. Officially launched by President Mbeki and President Toure in South Africa on 25 May 2003, the training phase of the project was completed with the training in South Africa of two groups of two students each during April-May 2003 and June-July 2003 respectively.

Economic/trade relations:

South African imports from Mali

R 13,3 million (2001)
R 9,0 million (2002)
R 6,8 million (2003)

South African exports to Mali

R 164,8 million (2001)
R 199,3 million (2002)
R 177,6 million (2003)

Two major South African gold mining companies are represented in Mali. Anglogold operates three gold mining operations: Yatela (in the southwest of Mali), Morila (200 km south of Bamako, which is jointly operated with Randgold) and Sadiola (near the town of Kayes in the extreme west of Mali). The Malian government holds shares of 20% in Yatela & Morila and 18% in Sadiola. While the trade figures between South Africa and Mali to a large extent reflect the activities of the two mining companies (i.e. the exports of machinery and base metals to Mali), South Africa's main import products from Mali are textiles and textile articles. Mali also imports construction material and prepared foodstuffs from South Africa.

Eskom Enterprises was successful in winning the international bid in July 2001 for the hydro-electrical generation project in Manantali. Manantali is a joint initiative between the governments of Mali (who will receive 51% of the output), Senegal (34%) and Mauritania (15%).

On a multilateral level, co-operation between South Africa and Mali in the gold mining industry and particularly with regard to the stabilisation of the international gold price is being pursued/end

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
09 August 2004