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Statement on Conclusion of the Visit
of the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michelene
Calmy-Rey to South Africa, 19 February 2004
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
today, Thursday 19 February 2004 hosted her Swiss counterpart,
Minister Michelene Calmy-Rey for bilateral political
and economic discussions at the Presidential Guesthouse
in Pretoria.
The meeting of the two Ministers was preceded by a
meeting of delegations of senior government officials
from the two countries which took place on Wednesday
18 February 2004.
The two Ministers discussed among others preparations
for the10 Year Celebrations and the forthcoming elections;
the status of bilateral relations and development cooperation.
The deepening of relations with trilateral cooperation
in Africa were focused on and regional issues such as
the progress on African Union (AU) institutions, Swiss
foreign policies priorities in Africa and synergies
between Swiss foreign policy priorities and NEPAD objectives
were explored.
Switzerland expressed a desire to participate, where
possible in cooperation with South Africa on the African
continent. Considering Switzerland's nature of involvement
in Africa and its aforementioned objectives that are
very similar to those of the New Partnership for Africa's
Development (NEPAD), Switzerland is well positioned
to engage in support of the African Renaissance.
Switzerland remains actively engaged and contributes
substantially, both bilaterally and multilaterally,
to emergency relief operations in the Great Lakes region.
The Swiss Development Co-operation Agency for instance
maintains an Office in Burundi, focusing on bilateral
humanitarian assistance.
The two Ministers also focused on Women's Rights and
Gender Equality. Through the Swiss Development Cooperation,
the Government of Switzerland contributed R200 000 to
the 16 days of Activism on No Violence Against Women
and Children campaign in 2003. Switzerland has proposed
inter alia the adoption of a Declaration of Joint Action
by the two countries on the promotion of women's rights.
This Declaration proposes the strengthening of the Office
of the Special Rapporteur on Women's Rights of the African
Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the deployment
of a South African expert to this Office to assist with
the translation of gender sensitive policies into tangible
projects.
The two Ministers also discussed the role and centrality
of the UN as well as the reform of the UN and UN Security
Council.
Minister Calmy-Rey briefed Minister Dlamini Zuma of
the Swiss position on both Iraq and the Middle East.
Minister Calmy-Rey reiterated that Switzerland is strongly
guided by adherence to international humanitarian law,
negotiated solutions and emphasis on the necessity of
recognition of the role of the United Nations (global
governance).
The Swiss Foreign Ministry also played an active role
in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Ministry acted
as "facilitator" by providing logistic and
financial supports and helped bring the parties together
for peace negotiations.
The Working Group considered and briefed the two Ministers
of cooperation projects within the framework of the
Joint Declaration of Intent on Joint Cooperation in
Africa that was signed in 2003, possible trilateral
projects in the field of gender equality and peace building.
They agreed to actively pursue the initiation of the
identified projects and the trilateral partners would
be requested to report back on progress in this regard
on a regular basis.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
19 February 2004
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