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Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to host Dutch Counterpart
Dr Bernard Rudolf Bot for bilateral discussions Tshwane - South African
Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will host her Dutch counterpart, Dr
Bernard Rudolf Bot, for bilateral political and economic discussions at the Union
Buildings in Tshwane on Tuesday, 11 October 2005. The visit by Dr Bot comes
within the context of South Africa's programme to promote North-South co-operation
in support of the African agenda. The Netherlands plays a leading role in international
development, and is, for example, one of only a small handful of countries that
exceed the 0.7% UN target for Official Development Assistance as a percentage
of Gross National Income (actually spending 0,8%). Issues on the agenda
of discussions between Foreign Ministers Drs Dlamini Zuma and Rudolph Bot are
expected to include, among others:
· The status of bilateral political
and economic relations, including the future focus of co-operation activities;
·
Peace and security in Africa including an update of the situation in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Burundi, Sudan, and trilateral co-operation projects with the
Netherlands in supporting emerging democracy in these countries;
· The
European Union's proposed Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals
(REACH) legislation, which could have the unintended consequence of harming the
mining and other industries in South Africa and the developing world; and
·
A briefing by Minister Bot on developments in the European Union. Upon conclusion
of the discussions, Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Bot will sign a Declaration of
Intent on a Framework for Co-operation and a Bilateral Commission. With the signing
of this agreement, the Dutch government commits itself to aligning its co-operation
activities with the priorities and policies of the South African government. South
Africa is one of the 36 chosen partner countries of the Dutch development co-operation
programme. It is envisaged that a Bilateral Commission will be set up to review
progress and manage relations. While in South Africa, Foreign Minister Dr
Rudolf Bot is scheduled to hold discussions with Finance Minister Trevor Manuel
during which both will sign an Avoidance of Double Taxation Treaty. The Netherlands
is already one of the most important investors in South Africa and South Africa's
fifth most important export market, and it is expected that the Treaty will give
trade and investment a further boost. The Netherlands government is active
in building peace in Africa, particularly in the Great Lakes region and Sudan,
and has declared itself open to proposals for partnering with South Africa to
advance peace and security on the continent. Dr Bot will meet with Defence Minister
Mosiuoa Lekota to discuss further opportunities in the strategic partnership between
the Netherlands and South Africa in peace-keeping in Africa. Two defence-related
agreements will be signed - an Arrangement on Bilateral Military Co-operation
and an Arrangement to implement the Dutch pledge announced on 1 June 2005 to contribute
€5 million to the SANDF for a joint project to support the military integration
process of the armed forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other recent
notable contributions to South Africa to support peace and security in Africa
have included: · €294 000 for SA's contingent in MONUC in the
DRC (2002)
· €1 million for SA's contingent in AMIB in Burundi
(2003/4)
· €4,5 million for the Burundi Protection Force (2001/2) The
Dutch government established the Stability Fund in late 2003 to "provide
rapid and flexible support for activities that foster peace, security and development
in countries and regions where violent conflicts are threatening to erupt or have
already erupted". The Fund, which is managed by the World Bank, has a 2005
budget of €85 million. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 ?
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Tshwane
0001 9 October
2005 | 
