Minister Dlamini Zuma signs Agreements on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and Co-Operation on National Parks and thus concludes Visit to Argentina

Buenos Aires: South African Foreign Minister, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has today, Wednesday, 3rd December 2008, concluded a visit to Argentina where; she led a high - level, inter - departmental delegation to co - chair the Second Meeting of the South Africa - Argentina Binational Commission. 

The major highlight of Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit was the signing of two critical Agreements in the field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and Co-operation between South African National Parks and its Argentinean counterpart in National Conservation efforts.

Minister Dlamini Zuma participated in the Binational Commission between South Africa and Argentina within the context of South Africa's commitment to strengthen and consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries whilst advancing South - South Relations.

Both Argentinian Foreign Minister, Dr. Jorge Enqique Taiana and Minister Dlamini Zuma expressed satisfaction at the levels of bilateral relations between the two countries. At the end of the Binational Commission a " Book' detailing the processes and conceptual issues during the life - span of the Binational Commission was presented to Minister Dlamini Zuma, by Ambassador Pieter Goosen, South Africa's representative to Argentine.

Whilst in Argentina, Minister Dlamini Zuma participated in a Panel on the Public Policy Association Conference on the Control of International Arms Transfers. In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma made the critical point that small arms and light weapons were Africa's weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) as they had an effect of wreaking havoc on the continent and causing massive suffering in our countries.

A sad, but necessary visit to the School of Naval Engineering that served as the Primary Torture and Detention Centre during military dictatorship, proved the point that such Centres are necessary in countries emerging from repressive regimes, to ensure that such atrocities should never be visited upon our peoples again.

On the margins of the Binational Commission; Minister Dlamini Zuma also interacted with a cross - section of Argentinian society, academics and Afro - Argentineans and shared experiences on the condition of people of African origin in the Diaspora. An interaction with Argentinian business people re- emphasised the necessity of strengthening economic relations between the two countries, by ensuring that two - way trade between the two countries and complementarities in our economies are further developed.

Minister Dlamini Zuma returns to South Africa on Thursday, 4th December 2008 which co-incides with the Conference on the Western Sahara, that DFA is hosting which in collaboration with the University of Pretoria.

For more information, contact Nomfanelo Kota on + 27 82 459 3787

c/o South African Embassy
Buenos Aires
Argentina

3 December 2008