Annual Consultations between South Africa and Spain Joint
Communique, Madrid, 17 July 2007
The South African Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aziz Pahad, paid an official visit to Spain on 17 July
2007 at the invitation of Mr. Bernardino Leon Gross, the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain.
Mr. Pahad and Mr. Leon co-chaired
the Plenary session of the fourth Annual Political Consultations between South
Africa and Spain. The plenary followed sector meetings held on 16-17 July 2007
that were convened to continue the discussions on different areas and programmes
for bilateral co-operation.
The meeting reaffirmed the strategic partnership
between South Africa and Spain and their shared commitment to the values of democracy
and good governance, peace and security and development on the African Continent.
The delegations comprised senior officials representing the following
Ministries: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
Health, Arts and Culture, Defence and Home Affairs.
The principals expressed
their satisfaction that relations between our respective countries and people
continue to grow and strengthen in all areas.
Both sides acknowledged
that these consultations are key to foster cooperation in different fields between
both countries and to take an accurate measure of the level of cooperation attained
from one year to the other.
Both sides expressed their commitment to make
especial efforts during the next year to increase the level of fulfilment on the
commitments made during this year's annual consultations.
Since the first
consultations meeting in February 2004 both countries have held different high
level meetings. For example, President Mbeki and Prime Minister Zapatero met at
the Progressive Governance Summit in Hungary in 2004; the Director Generals of
Foreign Affairs met in Madrid in February 2006, and in Cape Town in February 2007;
the Spanish Secretary General for Co-operation and the Secretary of State for
Tourism and Trade visited South Africa in June and September 2006; and the South
African Ministry of Defence visited Madrid in April 2007.
Political
Relations
The parties confirmed that relations remained excellent.
It was further acknowledged that relations could benefit from further high-level
visits as difficulties in the agenda did not make possible the agreed visit of
President Mbeki to Spain during 2007. In this context, South Africa confirmed
the intention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Dlamini-Zuma to visit Spain
before the end of this year. Both parties agreed to work together towards the
objective of a visit of President Mbeki in the first quarter of 2008.
Both
delegations exchanged views on current international developments, and expressed
its strong support for the active consolidation and promotion of the African Agenda.
The Spanish side was briefed on the latest developments with regard to the African
Union and NEPAD and commended on progress achieved.
The South Africa
side presented a briefing on recent developments in the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) including the situation on Zimbabwe. Both delegation expressed
their concern on the socio-economic situation in Zimbabwe and will continue to
follow developments actively.
Spain briefed the South African delegation
of the official inauguration of Casa Africa (House of Africa) in Las Palmas by
His Majesty the King Juan Carlos in June 2007, as well as, the implementation
of the Spanish Africa Plan. In pursuit of the United Nations target of 0.7 percent
of developed countries´ countries GNP for development aid, Spain has undertaken
to attain a level of ODA equivalent to 0.5 percent of Spain´s GNP by 2008,
as proofs of its commitment to the African continent. South Africa is the key
reference in the Spanish Africa Plan.
The Spanish side informed of the
preminent role that the program of Casa Africa will devote to South Africa. It
was suggested that the Casa Africa should organise special events dedicated to
South Africa on the ocassion of the foreseen coming South African high level visits
to Spain.
Spain reiterated its support to both the AU and NEPAD. In this
context, the Spanish side briefed its South African counterpart on the recent
conclusion of a Special Fund for Gender Issues with NEPAD, funded by Spain with
10 Million Euros for the year 2007.
Deputy Minister Pahad provided an
assessment of current developments and the role of South Africa on the peace processes
in the Cote d'Ivoire, DRC, the Great Lakes, Somalia, Sudan and Darfur. The importance
of Peace and Security in Africa was recognized. The strategic partnership between
South Africa and Spain in their quest to prevent conflict and achieve post conflict
reconstruction in the DRC, the Great Lakes, Somalia, Sudan and Darfur was reaffirmed.
The principals agreed to continue regular exchanges of information on the African
Agenda and the respective roles that each could play in enhancing EU-Africa relations.
Both delegations exchanged views on the recent events in the Western Sahara
conflict, following UN Security Council Resolution 1754 of April 30 2007 which
calls upon the parties to enter into negotiations under UN auspices without preconditions
in good faith with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable
political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people
of Western Sahara. Both delegations agreed to continue working together to support
the UN multilateral efforts in assisting and encouraging the parties to find a
just, peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.
Spain and South Africa
stressed the importance of effective multilateralism and the indispensable role
of the United Nations in solving global problems. South Africa informed of its
role as member of the United Nations Security Council, and their agenda in the
near future. The parties emphasised that the United Nations should be strengthened
through reform to enable it to better deliver on its mandates. They agreed that
reform should also lead to the democratisation of the key institutions of the
United Nations in order to allow the participation of more countries in decision-making.
Deputy Minister Pahad and Secretary of State Leon exchanged views on
issues regarding the Middle East. The parties also reflected on the escalation
of violence in the area and reiterated their support for a peaceful Middle East.
South Africa praised the role of the Spain in the United Mission in Lebanon and
presented again its condolences for the death of six soldiers after a terrorist
attack.
Deputy Minister Pahad received a briefing on developments within
the Latin American region and an assessment by the Spanish delegation on the way
forward for the region. Economic and Trade Co-operation
The
two sides acknowledged new growth in their bilateral trade, following suit to
the increases in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Furthermore, both parties acknowledged the
growth potential of Foreign Direct Investments, In this regard, the establishment
of a Joint Trade and Investment Committee will be a useful tool for closer monitoring
of the bilateral economic relations. Both parties agreed that fostering cooperation
between South African and Spanish firms in strategic sectors would be an important
task for the future Joint Committee.
South Africa and Spain exchanged
views on their respective trade and investment promotion strategies as well as
the need for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment BBBEE regulation, and further
committed to facilitate discussions on implementation issues with Spanish companies
engaged in investment projects.
South African side presented a comprehensive
briefing on the Shared and Accelerated Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA)
as well as on the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) and
agreed to identify areas in which they could cooperate, particularly as regards
skills acquisition. Spain briefed the South African Delegation on the current
status of the National Reform Plan.
Both parties also exchanged views
regarding the Doha Round and the prospect of the EPA between the EU and SADC.
Spain expressed its interest on the role that South African companies are playing
in other African countries. Spain and South Africa are willing to cooperate in
other parts of the world, particularly in Africa and Latin America.
The
parties agreed on the need to take advantage of new opportunities arising in the
South African market, especially against the background of the coming 2010 World
Cup.
The South African representatives met with representatives from the
Confederation of Spanish Entrepreneurs Organization, INTERES-Invest in Spain,
as well as with representatives from the Secretary General for Tourism.
Defence Co-operation.
In April 2007, both MODs signed an Agreement
on Defence Cooperation. Since that date, an important number of activities have
been performed including high level visits and a number of specific agreements
have been signed or are in the process of approval. It has been agreed to celebrate
the first meeting between both MODs during the second half of this year in Pretoria
which will further deepen existing cooperation in all security and defence issues.
Home Affairs.
The parties discussed illegal migration
and exchanged of information on the sharing of experiences and best practices.
Spain informed the South African side about the follow-up of the Rabat Conference
on Migration and Development, as well as about the new generation of bilateral
agreements on migration that Spain has offered to countries in West Africa, in
order to tackle this phenomenon with a holistic development approach. Both parties
exchanged views on the EU-Africa Summit to be held in Lisbon in December 2007,
in which the migration issue will be discussed.
Both parties highlighted
the need to increase the exchange of information between the two countries relating
to illegal migration and human trafficking mafias, as well as to other types of
criminal activities and international terrorism groups. Both parties believe that
this would lead to an increase in the efficiency in the fight against all types
of criminal networks. Both parties also agreed on the importance of sharing information
on best practices used by each country in this regard and also referred to the
importance of strengthening the existing relations between the specialized agencies
in each country that are specifically responsible of stopping criminal networks.
Both Governments also highlighted the importance of designing travel documents
that are much more secure and that are immune to attempts by organized criminal
organizations to commit fraud and falsifying documents.
The two parties
also agreed on the importance of providing global solutions to global problems
relating to illegal migration an stated that these solutions should be based on
close co-operation between the countries of origin, countries of transit and countries
of destination of the migrants in order to be able to apply a common, continuous
and effective policy against illegal migration mafias.
Both parties also
exchanged information on the different border and migration control procedures
used by each country. Both sides discussed plans to prepare for a future visit
by the South African Minister of Home Affairs to Madrid.
Cultural
co-operation
Both parties support the increase of cultural exchanges
between their countries and express their satisfaction for the progress of ongoing
negotiations on the Programme of Cooperation in the field of Culture for the years
2007-2010. Both sides also express their wish that the Programme be soon approved
by the first Joint Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement
between the Government of the Kingdom of Spain and the Government of the Republic
of South Africa on Co-operation in the fields of Art and Culture, signed in Pretoria
in February 2004.
Health
Both sides agreed on the
main priorities that should be tackled in the field of Health. It was agreed that
both sides would make efforts to increase the presence of South Africa in the
advanced Seminars organised by Spain under its VITA Programme for Africa.
The South African side will identify its main priority to propose to the VITA
program in the AECI the organization of a regional seminar to be held in South
Arica in the areas of reproductive health, communicable diseases (including HIV/AIDS),
children's health issues and maternal health.
Further consultation will
be undertaken to explore ways to collaborate through African regional institutions
in triangular cooperation in third countries.
Tourism and environment.
The South African delegation from the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental
Affairs held several successful meetings with their counterparts from the Ministry
of Trade and Industry, Environmental Affairs, Fisheries, as well as with representatives
from the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECI).
During AECI
meetings, officials from both sides sorted out administrative problems which had
hampered the project to train South African tour operators in Spanish and looked
for further ways to increase this training through Spanish lecturers at South
African universities.
Regarding Environment issues, officials from the
Ministry of Environment Affairs in Spain explained the Spanish strategies on the
fight against desertification, reduction of Carbon emissions, climate change and
waste disposal. Both sides agreed that further consultation should be explored
and looked forward to the attendance of the South African side to the Conference
of the UN Convention to fight desertification for a new bilateral meeting.
Conclusion In conclusion of the deliberations of the Annual Political
Consultations, both Deputy Ministers agreed that it proved to be a valuable mechanism
to review and actively promote the excellent ties between South Africa and the
Kingdom of Spain and thanked the different departments for their presence. Officials
were tasked to follow up on the discussions and present clear and measurable results
at the next meeting to be held in South Africa in 2008.
Issued by Department
of Foreign Affairs Private Bag X152 Pretoria 0001
