Communiqué on the Official Visit to South Africa of the
Right Honourable the Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili, 18-20 June 2007, Cape
Town
At the invitation of HE President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic
of South Africa, the Rt Hon. the Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili of the Kingdom
of Lesotho paid an Official Visit to South Africa from 18 to 20 June 2007.
Prime Minister Mosisili was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Relations, Mr Mohlabi Tsekoa; Minister of Tourism Environment and
Culture, Ms Lebohang Nts'inyi; Minister of Trade and Industry, Co-operatives and
Marketing, Mr Popane Lebesa; Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr.
Timothy Thahane; Lesotho's High Commissioner to South Africa, HE Mr Mosuoe Moteane
and other senior Government officials.
President Mbeki was accompanied
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Trade
and Industry, Mr Mandisi Mpahlwa; Minister of Transport, Mr Jeff Radebe; Minister
of Correctional Services, Mr Ngconde Balfour; Minister of Home Affairs, Ms Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula; Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Ms Lindiwe Hendricks;
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Joyce Mabudafhasi; South
Africa's High Commissioner to Lesotho, HE Mr Happy Mahlangu and senior Government
officials.
President Mbeki welcomed Prime Minister Mosisili and
his delegation to South Africa, and reiterated South Africa's commitment to deepen
bilateral relations between the countries.
The Heads of Delegation
acknowledged the long standing historical, cultural and linguistic ties as well
as geographical proximity that bind the two countries.
The Parties
reaffirmed the importance of the Joint Bilateral Commission for Co-operation (JBCC)
between the two countries which was signed in 2001.The JBCC is being used as a
vehicle to drive forward areas of co-operation between the two countries.
Both Parties noted that since the establishment of the JBCC in 2001, a number
of bilateral agreements including the Scientific and Technological Co-operation
and the Search and Rescue Agreement had been signed.
During
the Official Visit, the following Agreement and Memoranda of Understanding were
signed: Agreement on the Facilitation of Cross Border Movement of Citizens; MOU
on Co-operation in Correctional Services and MOU on Co-operation on Cross Border
Wild Fires and other Forest Management Issues. This brings to twenty (20) the
number of agreements signed between the two countries.
The Parties
committed themselves to the full implementation of the Joint Bilateral Commission
for Co-operation and all the signed bilateral agreements. President Mbeki re-emphasised
South Africa's commitment to assist to implement the Sani Pass Mokgotlong road
project, which will yield great benefits for tourism, the construction of the
first phase of the Metolong Dam and Spatial Development Initiatives. The Parties
noted that the Rail link has been adopted as a SADC-NEPAD project, which forms
part of the SADC Transport Master Plan. Both Parties noted that great progress
has been achieved since the signing of the JBCC.
President Mbeki
congratulated Prime Minister Mosisili for his tenure as Chairman of SADC and for
successfully hosting the SADC Heads of States and Government Summit in 2006 where
issues of economic regional integration were discussed, including the protocol
on finance and investment, which is critical for the integration process of this
regional organisation.
The two Parties also exchanged views on
the latest regional, continental and international developments. Both Parties
recalled the decision of the Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government
of SADC in Dar-es-Salaam on 29 March 2007 to send a SADC Ministerial Troika to
Lesotho to assess the situation as requested by the government of that country.
Prime Minister Mosisili briefed President Mbeki on the recent political developments
in Lesotho following the February 2007 elections and on the visit and report of
the SADC Ministerial Troika.
President Mbeki commended Lesotho
for holding successful and peaceful elections in February 2007. Both Parties reiterated
though that peace and stability are a prerequisite for socio-economic development
in the region and the continent.
The two Heads of Delegation
renewed their commitment to actively participate in programmes and mechanism of
the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) as well as the African Peer
Review Mechanism (APRM).
Prime Minister Mosisili commended South
Africa for sending troops to Burundi, Darfur, Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic
of Congo and President Mbeki's mediation efforts in Zimbabwe as well as South
Africa's role at the United Nations Security Council.
Discussions
were conducted in a friendly manner reminiscent of the sound and historical relations
subsisting between the countries.
Prime Minister Mosisili expressed
his gratitude to HE President Mbeki, the Government and the people of South Africa
for the invitation and for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation
throughout their stay in South Africa.
ISSUED IN CAPE TOWN
Department
of Foreign Affairs Private Bag X152 Pretoria 0001
