Joint Communiqué on the First Session of the South Africa-Mali Joint Commission of Co-Operation (JCC) held in Pretoria, South Africa from 10 - 11 August 2004

At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Dr N C Dlamini Zuma, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Mr Moctar Ouane, accompanied by H.E. Mr Clazié Cissouma, Minister of Defence & War Veterans, H.E. Mr Hamed Diane Semega, Minister of Mines, Energy & Water and H.E. Mr Ousmane Thiam, Minister for the Promotion of Investment & SMME's and a delegation of Malian Government officials visited South Africa to attend the 1st session of the South Africa-Mali Joint Commission of Co-operation (JCC) held in Pretoria from 10 - 11 August 2004.

The Head of the Malian delegation, H.E. Mr Moctar Ouane, in his capacity as Special Envoy of President Amadou Toumani Touré, was received by H.E. Mr T M Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, during which the former conveyed to the South African Head of State a message from his Head of State. H.E. Mr Clazié Cissouma, Minister of Defence & War Veterans, had extensive discussions with his South African counterpart, H.E. Mr M G P Lekota. As part of the ongoing consultations between South Africa and Mali within the context of the African Mining Partnership and with a view to expanding bilateral co-operation in the area of minerals and energy, H.E. Mr Hamed Diane Semega, Minister of Mines, Energy & Water had discussions with the South African Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy, H.E. Ms L Xingwana. In an effort to increase trade and investment between the two countries, H.E. Mr Ousmane Thiam, Minister for the Promotion of Investment & SMME's, had discussions with the South African Minister of Trade & Industry, H.E. Mr M Mpahlwa.

During the session, the South African and Malian delegations noted with satisfaction the excellent nature of relations between the two countries. The two delegations recalled the signing on 3 December 2000 of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Mali for the establishment of a Joint Commission on Co-operation (JCC) as well as the State Visit to Mali by the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr T M Mbeki, in November 2001 and the visit to South Africa by the President of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Mr Amadou Toumani Touré in May 2003.

The two sides reviewed the progress made in the following sectors of co-operation identified during the November 2001 State Visit to Mali by the South African Head of State:

• 3.1 agriculture, where ostrich-breeding, the processing of cattle products, intensive cattle breeding, the processing & preservation of fruit & vegetables, the rehabilitation of land and increased rice production and agricultural research were identified as priority areas;
  
  
• 3.2 arts & culture, which was highlighted by the signing in August 2002 of an Agreement on the Preservation of the Ancient Manuscripts in the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research in Timbuktu;
  
  
• 3.3 education, where the promotion of exchanges between universities in the two countries was identified as a priority area;
  
  
• 3.4 foreign affairs & co-operation, where an Agreement on bilateral consultations between the two foreign ministries was signed in December 2000;
  
  
• 3.5 health, where South Africa entered into a trilateral project with Mali and Cuba within the context of the South-South Healthcare Delivery Programme (SSHDP) for the funding of part of the expenses of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Mali;
  
  
• 3.6 mines and energy, where the two countries have been closely co-operating within the context of the African Mining Partnership (AMP);
  
  
• 3.7 sport, where South Africa provided logsitical assistance to Mali as host of the 23rd African Cup of Nations football tournament from 19 January to 10 February
  2002; and
  
  
• 3.8 transport, where the two sides concluded a Bilateral Air Services Agreement in July 2002, which was ratified by Mali in October 2002 and by South Africa in November 2003.

In this regard, the Malian delegation expressed the wish to see the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement through the introduction of flights between Johannesburg and Bamako by South Africa's designated airline, South African Airways. The two sides further agreed that the trilateral health project should continue. The South African side undertook to investigate the possibility of granting Malian students who wish to continue their studies at South African tertiary institutions special enrollment status. The two sides recognised the urgent need to ensure closer and more regular contact between their respective private sectors, while the South African side took note of the specific projects proposed by the Malian side with regard to the construction of a bridge over the river …. and the need for assistance in the processing of cotton, of which Mali is a major producer. The South African side expressed its appreciation to the Malian side for its support of South Africa in its bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, which is considered as a victory not only for South Africa, but for the African continent as a whole. Both parties hailed the successful implementation of the hydro-electrical power generation project in Manantali which generates 51% of its output to Mali, 34% to Senegal and 15% to Mauritania. They expressed the view that this project is a concrete demonstration of partnership within the framework of NEPAD.

The two delegations confirmed their commitment to the operationalisation of the African Union and its various organs. In this regard, the South African delegation expressed its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Mali for its support given to South Africa in its bid to host the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The two sides undertook to investigate ways and means of ensuring closer co-operation between the regional economic organisations they each belong to, namely the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Both Parties commended the efforts made by the African Union aimed at the restoration of peace and stability in Sudan and, in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Darfur region, made an appeal to the international community to offer assistance to that country. The two sides also welcomed the holding of the recent Accra Summit on Côte d'Ivoire which was attended by both the South African and Malian Heads of State and reaffirmed their wish to see the full implementation of the agreement reached at this Summit. With regard to the situation in the Manu River Union, the two sides expressed satisfaction at the progress being made in the reconstruction processes underway in Liberia and Sierra Leone. With regard to Burundi, the two sides welcomed the signing of the latest peace agreement in Pretoria and expressed confidence in the success of the peace building processes underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

With regard to international issues, the two sides noted their respective roles within the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement and reaffirmed their commitment to Africa and the agenda of the South and in this respect agreed to intensify their co-operation in multilateral institutions including the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), etc.

A meeting of officials will be convened in Bamako during 2005 to finalise negotiations on all draft agreements that have been exchanged between the two delegations. This meeting will also prepare for the 2nd session of the JCC to be held in Mali.

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

12 August 2004