Reasons for the postponement of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) until 2015
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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 377 (NW524E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 6-2013 OF 8 MARCH 2013
MR IO DAVIDSON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
(1) On what grounds was the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) postponed until 2015; and
(2) What were the reasons for the postponement communicated to all summit partners, including Indonesia?
REPLY:
(1) The major reason that the second New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Summit has not been held to date is that NAASP is the only existing African multilateral partnership that does not fall under the overall framework on multilateral cooperation with the African Union (AU). Other factors also militated against the holding of the Summit, but this was the primary concern. In this regard, the recommendations of the “Global Review of Africa’s Strategic Partnership with other Parts of the World” were endorsed by the Executive Council of the AU at its 20th Session held in January 2012.
(2) The Summit partners were advised that a process to integrate NAASP into the processes of the AU was being launched and this was done in full consultation with Indonesia, Co-chair with South Africa of NAASP. Indonesia represents the Asia component of NAASP.
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