5th Bi-National Commission Senior Officials’ Meeting between South Africa and Algeria, Pretoria, 31 March 2010

Minister of International Relations and Co-operation of the Republic of South Africa, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will co-chair the Fifth Plenary Session of the South Africa-Algeria Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) with her Algerian counterpart Mr Mourad Medelci, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, on 31 March 2010 in Pretoria. The Plenary Session will be preceded by bilateral preparatory meetings of the senior officials of the different Technical Working Groups.

The Bi-national Commission was established in 2000 as a structured framework for co-operation, to promote political and socio-economic relations between the Republic of South Africa and People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. Six Technical Working Groups will report on progress made since the last meeting in 2005. 

The two Ministers will co-chair the Senior Officials Meeting in order to ensure a high level review and assess the implementation of actions and programmes of the various Technical Working Groups (TWGs). The participation by the Ministers will give the impetus needed for the preparation of the 5th Session Presidential Bi-national Commission of Co-operation envisaged in the course of the year, 2010 in Algiers, Algeria, before June 2010.

In this Regard, Technical Working Groups are expected to report on the following:

• Identifying strategic areas of co-operation which are mutually beneficial and prioritise them in order to consolidate and strengthen the socio-economic and political bilateral relations between the two countries.

• NEPAD- Algeria’s foreign policy objectives in Africa are similar to those of South Africa, in that they share common vision of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the African Agenda in terms of the promotion of peace, security and stability and sustainable development in the African continent and co-operation between African countries.

• UN Candidature- Algeria is one of South Africa valued partner in the North African region and the two countries have maintained reciprocal support on important multilateral issues and in the support of each other’s UN candidatures. Algeria and South Africa share a similar position on the decolonisation and the right of self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara and support the United Nations Resolutions in the efforts to resolve the conflict.

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Algeria were established in May 1994, since then, relations between the two countries have grown exceptionally. 29 Bilateral Agreements have been concluded to date while others are being negotiated.

During the Plenary Session, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane will on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of South Africa, congratulate the government of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and its people for their National Team’s qualification towards 2010 FIFA World Cup which will be held in South Africa and to call upon all Algerians to become actively involved.

MEDIA PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

Media is invited as follows:

12h30: Media to arrive ahead of bilateral meeting with Minister Mourad Medelci

Photo Opportunity

13h30 – 14h00: Têtê-á-tête between Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and Minister Mourad Medelci

Venue: DIRCO, OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria

Contact/RSVP: Nthabiseng Ramatshela on 082 675 0893

14h00 – 14h30: Welcome and opening remarks: Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and Minister Medelci

Media in attendance: Conference Centre

End of Media Programme

For further information please contact Chief Director for Public Diplomacy Mr Kgomotso Saul Molobi on 082 940 1647

Department of International Relations and Co-operation
Private Bag x152
Pretoria
0001

30 March 2010