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Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad to Host Iraqi Counterpart Deputy
Foreign Minister Talib Al-Bayati, Tshwane, South Africa, 4 October 2005 Tshwane
- Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will hold political and economic discussions
with his Iraqi counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Talib Al-Bayati, at the Union
Buildings in Tshwane on Tuesday, 4 October 2005. Discussions between Deputy
Ministers Pahad and Al-Bayati will be held within the context of South Africa's
priority of promoting the peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in Iraq
and its return to full sovereignty. In this regard, the South African government
officially recognised the Transitional Iraqi Government when the new Iraqi Ambassador
Qassim Al-Rammah presented his credentials to President Mbeki on 17 June 2005. Within
this context, issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy Ministers Pahad
and Al-Bayati are likely to include: - The status of bilateral political
and economic relations between South Africa and Iraq;
- An overview of internal
developments within Iraq by Deputy Minister Al-Bayati including developments within
the constitutional and political processes, preparations for national elections
scheduled for 15 December 2005 and post-conflict reconstruction in Iraq; and
- A
report on how the situation in Iraq impacts on regional security and stability
including Israel and Palestine.
Bilateral Economic Relations
South
African exports to Iraq increased from R90 446 000 in 2004 to R233 806 000 during
the first five months of 2005, making Iraq South Africa's fourth biggest export
market in the Middle East. Main imports from Iraq between 2001-2002 consisted
of crude oil. Main exports to Iraq between 2001-May 2005 consisted of machinery,
transport equipment, base metals, textiles, plastic products, chemical products,
mineral products and prepared foodstuffs. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on
082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 4
October 2005
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