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Deputy Minsiter of Foreign Affairs,
Aziz Pahad concludes Bilateral Discussions with Syrian
Counterpart
Deputy Minister, Aziz Pahad, accompanied by the Director-General
of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, today - Sunday,
29 August 2004 - concluded bilateral political and economic
discussions with his Syrian counterpart, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Dr Issa Darweesh and a senior Syrian
delegation.
Deputy Minister Pahad and Dr Darweesh exchanged views
on the status of bilateral relations between both countries,
developments on the African cont6inent, as well as the
current situation in the Middle East, viz. the crisis
in Israel and Palestine and the conditions in Iraq following
the handover of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government
and the impact of both these situations in the region.
Deputy Minister Pahad briefed the Syrian delegation
that a South African embassy will be established in
Damascus by the end of the year. With the establishment
of a full diplomatic presence in Syria, bilateral relations
will be given greater impetus both within the South
African government and private sector. Both sides agreed
that the potential was and should be explored.
In addition, Deputy Minister Pahad reiterated the decision
of the NAM Ministerial meeting that real expression
be given to South-South co-operation - unless co-operation
at all levels between developing countries grows, a
new development reality for countries of the South will
remain theory.
With regard to the current situation in the region,
it was agreed upon by both delegations that all bilateral
and multilateral for a should be encourage the leadership
and civil society of Israel and Palestine to find a
just, viable and lasting solution based on the two state
theory in order for the current conditions to be alleviated
and peace, security and stability returned to the people
of Israel and Palestine.
With regard to Iraq, both delegations agreed unanimously
that full sovereignty - political and economic - should
be returned to the people of Iraq and the conditions
created for democratic elections, allowing the people
of Iraq to elect the leadership of the country, be held
by January 2005. Both delegations expressed concern
at the continuing violence and the level of casualties.
Following consultations with Dr Darweesh, the delegation
met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Farouk Al-Sharaa.
They further elaborated on the issues discussed earlier
and agreed that NAM had an important role to play in
promoting the agenda of the developing countries.
On Saturday. 28 August 2004, Deputy Minister Pahad,
in line with the African Union decision that all Africans
in the Diaspora be mobilised, met with a group of South
African students currently studying in Syria. Deputy
Minister Pahad briefed this group on developments within
South Africa, the continent and on the objectives of
his visit to the region.
In addition, on Saturday, 28 August 2004, the Director-General
of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba and a Foreign
Affairs delegation visited the Golan Heights.
Deputy Minister Pahad and his delegation will later
today depart from Syria for Amman, Jordan, where he
will meet with the Foreign Minister, Dr Marwan Al-Muasher,
on Monday, 30 August 2004.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082-990-4853.
C/O Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
29 August 2004
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