Congratulatory Remarks by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sue van der Merwe, on the occasion of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania's National Day on 27 November 2006

Distinguished Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Professor Mohammed El-Hacen Ould Lebatt
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Bon Soir Excellences, mesdames, monsieurs, c'est vraiment un plaisir d' etre parmi vous ce soir.

I would like to thank you for very much for the invitation to share in the celebration of the Anniversary of the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

On behalf of the government and people of South Africa may I also congratulate your government and people on the recent successful first round of municipal and legislative elections held on Sunday, 19 November 2006. South Africa is encouraged by the progress made thus far in implementing the commitment to ensure the transition to democracy in two years after the coup d'état in August last year, and that Senate and Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in the first part of 2007.

For Mauritania, as for South Africa, the road to peace and democracy has indeed been one of struggle. South Africa suffered many trials and encountered many obstacles as we worked towards our first democratic elections. We therefore understand that the implementation of democracy does not happen overnight. It is a difficult, yet not insurmountable process provided the will exists.

Your Excellency, South Africa has pledged its support to the efforts of the people of Mauritania to complete the election processes that will mark the end of the transitional period. Furthermore we actively support the AU's commitment to the African Agenda towards peace, security and development for all the peoples of Africa and we will support any fledgling democracy that wishes to reinforce this commitment.

A South African observer team participated in the African Union mission to observe the elections held last weekend and it thus gives us great pleasure to note that the preliminary report indicted that the first round of municipal and legislative elections was conducted in an open and peaceful manner.

The South African observers deployed in Nouakchott presented a positive report and in it noted that the electoral climate was conducive for the democratic expression of the will of the people of Mauritania. We wish Mauritania well with the second round of municipal and legislative elections scheduled to be held on 3 December 2006.

We also welcome the support given by the African region and of international partners in the implementation of the democratic roadmap in Mauritania. We are hopeful that the outcome of presidential elections in March 2007 will mark the beginning of a new future for the people of the Mauritania.

On a bilateral level, the South African observer team included two technical specialists from the South African Independent Electoral Commission who were invited by the Mauritanian authorities to assist the electoral process in developing a greater degree of electoral effectiveness and efficiency. Our wish is that the two respective electoral commissions will continued to co-operate closely in order to consolidate the electoral process.

With the opening of the Mauritanian mission here in South Africa, we are hopeful that the relationship between our two countries will grow and strengthen for the benefit of our two peoples.

The recent developments in your country and the general trend of peaceful transitions in many of our fellow African countries are a source of great encouragement to us, as we actively strive to rid our continent of all the negative stereotypes associated with it such war, famine and disease.

In the past twenty years democratic governance in Africa has advanced considerably. Twenty-five years ago, all but four of Africa's 53 countries were under military or one party rule. Today, almost all African countries have embraced political pluralism and the rights of citizens to form political parties and to compete for elected office.

Mauritania has now become a part of this trend.

On behalf of the government and the people of South Africa it gives me great pleasure on this occasion to wish you and the people of Mauritania good health, peace and prosperity in the challenges that lies ahead.