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Joint Communiqué Following the Visit to Mauritania by
the South Africa Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, 22 -
24 January 2005 At the invitation of H.E. Mr Mohamed Vail Ould Belial, Minister
for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, H.E.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South
Africa, undertook a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from Saturday,
22 to Monday, 24 January 2005. During this visit, the Minister was received
in audience by H.E. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, President of the Islamic Republic
of Mauritania and conveyed the brotherly greetings of the President of the Republic
of South Africa, H,E. Thabo Mbeki. The Minister paid a courtesy visit to
Prime Minister Maitre Sghair Ould Mbareck. The Ministers had fruitful and
extensive discussions on different fields of possible co-operation between their
two countries, ranging from trade and industry, to minerals and energy; fisheries;
maritime transport; infrastructure and education. As an expression of the
willingness of the two Heads of State, President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed and President
Thabo Mbeki, the Parties signed a Framework Agreement for Co-operation. The Agreement
constitutes a major step in strengthening friendship and solidarity between the
two peoples in the political, economical, social, cultural, scientific and technical
fields. The Agreement makes provision for the establishment of a Joint Co-operation
Commission at Ministerial level. During her visit Minister Dlamini Zuma
visited the SNIM company, which exports iron ore, as well as several local fisheries
and fish processing factories in the economic capital of Mauritania, Nouadhibou. In
reviewing the situation in the continent, the Ministers expressed their satisfaction
with the progress made regarding the operationalisation of the African Union and
its institutions and reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security in Africa
and rejected the use of violence as a means of political expression. The Ministers
reaffirmed the commitment of their respective governments to the implementation
of NEPAD and agreed to work on joint NEPAD projects for the mutual benefit of
their peoples. H.E. Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma expressed her deep satisfaction
and sincere gratitude to the Mauritanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Mohamed
Vail Ould Belial, and through him to the government and people of Mauritania for
the warm a nd brotherly welcome she a nd her d elegation received d uring t heir
stay in Mauritania. H.E. Dr Dlamini Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of South Africa, extended an invitation to H.E. Minister Ould Belial,
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, to pay
a reciprocal visit to South Africa, which he accepted with pleasure. The date
of the visit will be determined through the diplomatic channel. Issued by
Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag
X152
Pretoria
0001 24 January 2005
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