Joint Communiqué of the Eighth Meeting of the South Africa – United Kingdom Bilateral Forum 7-8 July 2008
The eighth meeting of the South Africa – United Kingdom Bilateral Forum was held at the Presidential Guest House, Church Street, Pretoria from 7 – 8 July.
Ministers welcomed the strength of the bilateral relationship. South Africa and the United Kingdom are bound by common ties of history, culture and shared values on human rights, the rule of law and good governance. They recognised the leading roles both countries played within the Progressive Governance Group and noted the importance of building further on this leadership within international institutions and on regional and global issues. This was particularly important on the African Agenda, pressing for greater G8 engagement and working on the UN/AU relationship.
Ministers welcomed the balancing of the UK development programme to ensure a strong link between bilateral aid to South Africa and working with South Africa to accelerate development in the region. Ministers acknowledged progress in DFID's regional support, in particular progress on one stop border posts; scoping assistance to respond to the impacts of climate change in South Africa and in the region; support to civil society organisations for the regional rollout of behaviour change programmes to tackle HIV and AIDS; and working with SADC on diversification of regional trade support, to include a focus on working with Southern African horticultural producers to export low carbon products; and to provide support for the SADC Pharmaceutical Business Plan. In the bilateral programme, Ministers welcomed the forthcoming support from the UK, in partnership with the EC, for South Africa's Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative (AsgiSA)
Ministers agreed that this was a critical year for development. At the halfway point towards the Millennium Development Goals it is clear that the international community needs to do more to accelerate progress. The UK noted that, while it remained committed to focus on ways to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals in South Africa, it acknowledged the economic and political role of South Africa beyond its borders. Ministers agreed that the UK and South Africa will work to ensure that the UN meeting in September agrees an action plan with specific action for governments and others to undertake in order to accelerate progress on the MDGs.
In the wider context of economic development in Africa, the Ministers stressed the importance of pursuing sustainable, low carbon growth, acknowledging that current climate change trends will undermine the conditions necessary for economic growth in both the developed and developing worlds and make it extremely difficult to achieve the MDGs. Ministers also asked for more to be done to focus the attention of the private sector on poverty reduction and other MDGs through more and better trade and investment. [They recommended an annual review by UKTI and South African DTI officials, with a proposal to include private sector input, to monitor progress and recommend action to increase cooperation in trade and investment.]
Both the UK and South Africa are facing similar challenges in the 21st Century due to the nature of security and economic co-dependence in the world today (e.g. Climate Change, social determinants of health, ‘pandemics’, energy / food security, meeting our MDG commitments and migration issues). International institutions can provide both a means of cooperating with others and a mechanism through which to deliver change. However, in their current form, these institutions are no longer able to adequately address today's global challenges, which exist as a result of dramatic shifts in geo-political relations and from economic, political, cultural and technological evolution. Ministers resolved to cooperate in shaping and reforming the international system in order to better respond to current global challenges.
Ministers acknowledged that climate change is a serious and urgent global challenge. They recognised that global political mobilisation and cooperative action, rooted in the principles and objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is needed to address the scale and urgency of the challenge. They recognised that a global transition to a low-carbon economy was both affordable and achievable; presented many opportunities for developing the environmental sector of the economy; and required major efforts to enhance sustainable consumption, production and lifestyles, facilitated through a strengthened and comprehensive global climate change agreement which supports long-term cooperative and domestic action. They noted that this global agreement should be informed by best available science and a shared vision for achieving equitable and sustainable development which includes a long term global goal for emissions to peak within the next 10-15 years and decline by at least 50% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. The Ministers stressed that for this shared vision and long term global goal to be credible it requires all developed countries to take the lead by committing to ambitious and comparable legally binding emission reduction targets. They further called upon the international community to adopt the most ambitious set of targets reflected in the 4th Assessment report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, which indicates the need for emission reductions targets by all developed countries in the range of 25% to 40% by 2020, and in the range of 80% to 95% by 2050. The Ministers further stressed that this leadership by developed countries would trigger a significant contribution from developing countries to the global effort, through measurable, reportable and verifiable actions to substantially reduce their emissions below “business-as-usual baseline” emission trajectories. They further noted that this enhanced mitigation action by developing countries will be supported and enabled by technology, finance and capacity building.
Ministers agreed to continue close cooperation in working towards a strengthened international climate change regime up to and beyond 2012, which includes the building blocks of adaptation, mitigation, technology and finance, to be agreed at the UN climate change conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December 2009. Ministers welcomed the positive contribution to the Forum by the Next Generation Climate Change Group. They agreed to explore further (including through the existing UK-SA Sustainable Development Dialogue) the Group’s proposals for action, including better bilateral information-sharing on climate opportunities; a bilateral Green Jobs Plan and work towards mapping and promulgating a compelling picture of a low carbon economy.
Ministers noted the joint engagement on the UN Security Council, and the cooperation that exists between our Missions in New York and in Capitals. Security Council membership currently presents both our countries with the opportunity to play a constructive role on matters of international peace and security, such as Ethiopia-Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Iran, Burma, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan. South Africa and the UK also jointly led a United Nations Security Council visit to Africa in 2007, which culminated in a historic meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). Future SA – UK partnership is also anticipated in taking forward progress already made during South Africa’s Presidency of the Security Council on Chapter VIII provisions in the UN Charter, that foster closer cooperation between the UNSC and regional organizations, in this case the AUPSC. Both countries also reiterated their firm support for reform of the UN Security Council. The UNSC debate on 20 May, chaired by the UK, focused on post-conflict stabilisation and recovery, and broad consensus was reached on the critical gaps in our international response: leadership and strategy, greater civilian expert capacity and the need for more rapid and flexible funding. South Africa highlighted the AU's role in peace building. The UK and South Africa will jointly build on this to identify how these gaps might be filled. An international conference on 11 July hosted by the UK will explore this further.
The UK and South Africa were pleased with the positive work officials had been doing together in the G20 through the troika and hoped this strengthened during the rest of the year as the Ministerial meeting approaches. Next year, the UK encourages South Africa to continue to play an active role in the G20, even though it will no longer be part of the troika. We look forward to working together closely on the policy themes of the UK's Chair of the G20 in 2009.
AU/Peacekeeping
Ministers reaffirmed their support for the African Union (AU)’s development of the African Peace Security Architecture (APSA), including operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF) from 2010 and preventative elements, such as Regional and Continental Early Warning Centres and the Panel of the Wise. Recognising the need for sustainable, predictable and flexible funding to support African Union peacekeeping, Ministers encouraged the UN-AU panel mandated by UNSCR 1809 to examine solutions for enhanced support to the AU to make early and forward-looking recommendations. Ministers also encouraged the AU to work to strengthen its institutional capacity to manage peacekeeping operations.
Ministers welcomed the continuing discussion in the United Nations towards an Arms Trade Treaty that would play a key role in preventing conflict and maintaining stability.
The UK noted the important contribution that South Africa is making to peacekeeping missions across the continent. Ministers welcomed progress towards a multi-dimensional peace mission. Ministers called upon officials to consider the varying needs and capacities of all potential role-players in peace mission including policing and civilian capabilities in order to enhance the efficacy of international peace operation. Ministers also called upon officials to consider how best to integrate the training of SAPS, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other civilian personnel.
Non-proliferation
The Foreign Ministers discussed a number of challenges facing the disarmament and non-proliferation regime, including in the area of weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons. They reiterated the importance of full compliance of all States with their legally-binding obligations under the relevant instruments.
Ministers noted the progress made in the development of common international standards for the trade in all conventional weapons and in particular the work of the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts that were mandated to consider the views submitted by UN Member States on the feasibility, scope and draft parameters of an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and to make recommendations on the way forward.
The Ministers welcomed the outcome of the first and second Sessions of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference and resolved to cooperate in strengthening the three equally important pillars of the NPT, namely nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Ministers welcomed the successful prosecution in South Africa of individuals involved in the illicit international nuclear weapons proliferation network and called on the many countries affected by the operations of the network to enhance their efforts. Ministers agreed that success in the elimination of illicit networks is dependent on the successful prosecution of all the actors involved in such illegal activities, which will require a concerted effort by all affected countries.
With regard to Iran, the Ministers expressed their commitment towards the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue. They reiterated the central verification role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in providing assurances regarding the peaceful application of nuclear energy and the non-diversion of activities towards nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices. Ministers underlined the importance of confidence-building and additional transparency measures in resolving this issue.
The UK also briefed the South African delegation on the E3+3 approach to Iran. South Africa welcomed recent initiatives and expressed the hope that this would result in a resumption of negotiations between the parties with a view towards securing a peaceful and sustainable solution.
Country-specific
The Ministers discussed the situation in Zimbabwe. They deplored the ongoing violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe. They remained deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis and the need for resumed access for humanitarian operations. They noted the decision of the Summit of the African Union on Zimbabwe and the respective governments’ stated positions on that issue. In this regard they reaffirmed the importance of dialogue between the parties to establish a lasting solution that reflected the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people. They also recalled the Presidential Statement of the UN Security Council of 23 June 2008.
Ministers expressed their concern over the recent fighting in Abyei, the lack of progress in Darfur and the tensions between Chad and Sudan. Ministers welcomed the agreement of 8 June by the Government of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan to resolve their differences over Abyei. They urged the Governments in Khartoum and Juba to find long-term solutions to the Abyei dispute, and to continue implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Ministers strongly condemned the attacks, which began on 13 June, by armed groups in Chad and called for an immediate end to violence in the region. Attempts to destabilise the country by force must stop. Ministers called on all parties to the conflict in Darfur to commit to a ceasefire, allow full humanitarian access and re-engage in the African Union/United Nations-led political process.
Ministers welcomed the recent Djibouti Agreement between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia as an important milestone on the road to a peaceful and secure future for the people of Somalia. They offered their congratulations to all the parties to the Agreement, and their thanks to the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah.The UN will continue to play a vital role in support of peace and security in Somalia. In welcoming the Agreement they called on other Somali Groups to join the process. Ministers agreed to continue to encourage the international community to provide support to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).
Ministers agreed that achieving peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was critical for wider peace and sustainable development in the region. They urged all parties to remain fully committed and engaged in the peace processes being followed in the DRC. The UK underlined its appreciation for South Africa’s commitment to security sector reform in DRC. The Ministers agreed that existing UK/SA cooperation on police reform in the DRC should be built upon.
The UK also recognised South Africa’s commitment to its role as the Facilitator of the peace process in Burundi. Ministers agreed that the joint declaration on the immediate cessation of hostilities of 26 May 2008 and the return of the leadership of the Palipehutu-FNL to Burundi in May were significant steps forward in the peace process. They welcomed the resumption of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) as well as the work of the Political Directorate for the Burundi Peace Process and noted the importance of international financial assistance to the South African Facilitation. Ministers further noted that the primary responsibility for the successful and earliest conclusion of the peace process in Burundi lies with the Government of Burundi and the PALIPEHUTU-FNL and urged the two parties to make every effort towards achieving this end.
Ministers discussed the latest developments on Iran, including the adoption of UNSCR 1803 on 3 March 2008 and the “E3+3” offer to Iran which was discussed in Tehran on 14 June 2008.
Ministers took note of the Egyptian mediated ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, which they regard as an encouraging development to improve the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian population in Gaza and to end cross border attacks on civilians by both sides, including the firing of rockets into Israel. Ministers also emphasised the importance of continued progress of Israel-Palestinian talks within the framework of the Annapolis peace process, leading to the establishment of a viable Palestinian State, existing side by side in peace with Israel within internationally recognised borders. Ministers also welcomed the election of a consensus President in Lebanon and the Turkish mediated indirect talks between Israel and Syria.
Trade Policy
The UK and South Africa agreed to continue to work together to ensure an ambitious development outcome to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Round by the end of 2008. Such a deal, supported by a substantial package of aid for trade, will help developing countries to trade their way out of poverty. Ministers also agreed that, at this time of global economic uncertainty, a deal in the Doha round would help renew confidence in the global economy, including through providing part of the medium term solution to high commodity prices.
Ministers noted the potential benefits of further deeper integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. In this regard, they welcomed recent efforts towards a addressing concerns raised in the SADC EPA negotiations with the EU and proposed this effort be extended to the broader SADC Membership. Ministers underlined the value of regular bilateral dialogue on trade and development with regard to maximising the developmental benefits of trade in the coming years.
Regional Trade and Development
The Forum recognised strong work by the UK in facilitating trade and promoting regional integration in southern Africa through its £16.0 million Regional Trade Facilitation Programme. This work is in partnership with COMESA, SADC, and national bodies such as South African Revenue Service (SARS). Transport and transit bottlenecks in the region are also being addressed through infrastructural improvements. The Forum agreed to strengthen cooperation between the UK and South Africa in facilitating trade and improving the region's transport infrastructure. Ministers noted the need to make faster progress in establishing One Stop Border Posts at South African border crossings with Mozambique at Ressano Garcia and with Zimbabwe at Beit Bridge.
A new £20.0 million UK programme will build on trade-facilitation successes and will help to accelerate the pace of regional integration. This should help existing efforts to expand trade in the region, improve infrastructure, and reduce unnecessary red tape by simplifying and modernising customs procedures and legislation.
Trade and Investment
Ministers, and senior trade officials from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the South African DTI, welcomed the continued strength of bilateral trade in goods and services and the sustained levels of investment flows, showing confidence in both economies. This underlined the UKTI's designation of South Africa as one of only a number of global High Growth Markets. The Forum welcomed the sustained level of bilateral engagement through visits by Ministers, Senior Officials and business delegations, further strengthening the trade and investment relationship. They identified a number of priority areas of mutual interest for ongoing future collaboration, including energy and environment; infrastructure; education, training and skills development; R&D and science and technology; advanced engineering; and in addressing market access issues. Attention was drawn to the potential for sharing experience of hosting major sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup and Olympic and Commonwealth games, with a strong and effective business legacy flowing from them.
The Forum welcomed the establishment of a joint committee chaired by UKTI and the DTI, with clear terms of reference, to review matters of mutual interest relating to bilateral trade and investment, an outcome of the 2006 Bilateral Forum. The Forum further highlighted the success of the JIPMC (Joint Industrial Participation Programme), overseeing compliance by UK companies of their offsets commitments in SA. They further noted the importance of both markets as conduits for business in their wider regional context.
Science & Technology
The United Kingdom and South Africa (SA) reaffirmed their strong belief in the role that science and innovation have to play in understanding the global challenges facing their societies and in developing appropriate technological solutions to those challenges. In particular, they emphasised the importance of working together to meet a number of the Millennium Development Goals.
Both sides assessed positively their collaboration in science and innovation, noting various programmes, which have in the last 12 years resulted in 300 joint publications; training of more than 200 MSc/PhD and Post Doctoral Students; establishment of a biotechnology laboratory and training centre in Limpopo province and an ongoing research collaboration between UK Meteorology Office and SA Weather Service on weather and environmental modelling. Both sides welcomed the jointly funded adaptation to climate change workshop to be held in South Africa in November, for UK and SA researchers, policy makers, research funders and industry.
The FCO will this year fund: (i) A medical devices innovation visit to the UK for SA experts to explore commercial and scientific collaboration opportunities and; (ii) SA experts to attend an agricultural research/food security collaboration meeting to be held in Brazil, for UK, Brazilian and African scientists, later this year.
Both sides welcomed the recent publication of the UK Department for International Development Research Strategy 2008-2013 and its focus on putting research at the heart of efforts to reduce poverty. In doing so they agreed to double the resources allocated to the UK/SA Networking Scheme and to focus the use of part of those resources on creating synergies with the themes explored in that strategy.
At the European level, UK and South African scientists worked together on 70 projects in the Sixth Framework Programme and both sides recognized the importance of the CAAST-NET project (Coordination and Advancement of sub-Saharan Africa-EU Science & Technology Cooperation) which is jointly implemented by European and African partner countries, to identify areas of mutual interest. They hoped that this project would lead to even greater collaboration through the Seventh Framework Programme.
The United Kingdom and South Africa agreed that there should be greater collaboration in science and innovation in key areas for the future.
Development Cooperation
Both Ministers noted that the new SA/ UK Cooperation Programme still focuses on promoting economic growth, employment creation, reducing inequality, developing skills and tackling social exclusion, promoting health and tackling AIDS, improving livelihoods and helping markets work better for the poor (financial, labour, urban land and commodities).
They further noted the joint European Union Country Strategy Paper (EU-CSP) signed in 2007 between the European Union, member states and the South African Government. The EU-CSP provides a platform for closer collaboration and joint action amongst EU member states. The UK leads on the Employment Promotion Working Group which is working well. The Group provides a forum for exchanging views, sharing information to avoid duplication and encouraging co-operation. It also allows for common positions to be formed in aligning with government policies and programmes, such as ASGISA. The UK supports the South African Government's leading role in implementing an effective monitoring system to measure the impact of the EU-CSP, and ensure more co-ordinated programming and implementation of development assistance.
Both Ministers discussed the shifting of the United Kingdom’s Government from working with South Africa as a bilateral aid partner, to a development partnership with South Africa promoting economic growth and poverty reduction in the Southern African region. The UK recognises that South Africa is crucial for Africa’s development both due to its substantial growth impact on the continent and due to the positive leading role it plays in peace, security and governance issues.
Health
Ministers discussed the ongoing positive outcomes from the 2003-2008 SA-UK Memorandum of Understanding on the Reciprocal Exchange of Healthcare concepts and personnel. Links between the South African Ministry of Health and the UK’s Health Protection Agency, National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Department of Health Workforce Division and Nursery and Midwifery Division had been established and knowledge and best practices shared. Over the period of the MoU, there had been a significant reduction in the numbers of South African nurses registering in the UK. This was achieved through a range of policy initiatives on health workforce management in both countries. The most recent Nursing and Midwifery Council figures showed a decline from 2114 in 2002 to 39 in 2007. The MoU is also widely cited in international health and workforce fora as an example of good practice.
Ministers discussed a range of shared interests including non communicable diseases (such as tobacco control), maternal, child and women’s health and how to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs. Ministers agreed that continued cooperation would further support the health and well-being of the public they serve. Ministers therefore agreed to extend the MoU for a further five years. Both parties agreed to continue with the current exchange of information, expertise and sharing of experiences in the health workforce areas for example between the South African Nursing Council and the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council. Ministers agreed to continue collaboration with the Health Protection Agency on emergency preparedness in relation to the World Cup in 2010 and the Olympic Games in 2012.
Culture/Sport
Ministers agreed to continue develop further sport cooperation in the areas of social cohesion as well as sports development. The Ministers reviewed and updated the bilateral Protocol of Action on Sport and agreed on a strategic arrangement for co-ordinating UK sporting initiatives in South Africa. They agreed to take forward plans to work together on collaborative projects relating to the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, particularly in the field of volunteering; and to expand the Police Twinning Programme to Durban and the Positive Futures cricket initiative in the Western Cape. It was also confirmed that a post-graduate Chevening Scholarship in sports administration had been awarded to a South African in 2008. The UK announced that South Africa would, in principle, be one of the UK’s partners in the London Olympic and Paralympic Games International legacy programme – “International Inspiration”. Planning will start late in 2008 with a view to implementation beginning in 2009. The UK Minister attended the launch of the Big Lottery Funded ‘Leading the Game’ programme.
The UK was pleased to note that since the UK/South Africa Film Co-production Treaty came into force in May 2007, one major film had been made as a UK/South Africa co-production. The UK was also pleased with the progress of the museum curator training scheme. There had been 9 South African trainee curators placed in English museums in 2006-07, the same number in 2007-08, and 11 were planned for 2008-09
Education
At the last Bilateral Forum in May 2006, the UK announced support for capacity building in South Africa through higher education partnerships. The next phase of this programme will be launched in September 2008 with further higher education partnerships focussing on the development and delivery of employability skills. South African institutions also lead eight DeIPHE projects, valued at over £500,000 and are also involved in a further seven DeIPHE partnerships as additional (rather than lead partner) institutions with universities in other African countries, including Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Migration
47. Ministers agreed on the importance of effective migration strategies, to strike the right balance between the economic and social benefits of the travelling public, and increased security efforts worldwide. Well-managed, regular migration has positive benefits whereas irregular migration between the two countries benefited neither South Africa nor the UK.
Ministers discussed the UK Visa Waiver Test to all non-EEA countries which had highlighted serious concerns including relating to non-South Africans acquiring South African passports fraudulently and using them to enter the UK illegally. Ministers recalled previous discussions at Ministerial level on this issue and noted that senior officials had had positive discussions on this matter The UK and South Africa jointly ran through the mitigation requirements. Ministers agreed that they would co-operate and communicate closely over the next six months.
The meeting noted South Africa’s plans to enhance the security of their passport and ID issuing procedures. Both sides agreed to keep in touch on these developments and to continue discussions on a Returns Agreement with a view to a swift conclusion. The Meeting greatly welcomed the offer that was made by the UK to assist in training and capacity building for South Africa.
Ministers committed to working closely to take the steps necessary to avoid the need for further visa requirements to be instituted for citizens travelling between the two countries.
Police cooperation
Ministers discussed areas of mutual concern regarding crime and disorder, and agreed that an increase in police cooperation and the sharing of best practice would be beneficial to both countries. They therefore welcomed an initiative to collaborate on police training. Close collaboration on trans-national crime had delivered notable operational results in recent investigations involving drug trafficking and people smuggling. Following on from these successes, UK Ministers were delighted to award commendations to a number of officers of the South African Police Service in recognition of their professionalism. Ministers called on officials to consider how to further deepen the partnership between the UK and South African Police.
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
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