PART ONE D F A D F A PART ONE Strategic Plan – March 2004

Africa Multilateral

The Department’s goals for thecontinent are therefore the resolutionof conflict and the building of a frame-work by means of which socio-eco-nomic development can take place.The entry points for achieving thesegoals are provided by the SouthernAfrican Development Community(SADC), the African Union (AU) andthe New Partnership for Africa’sDevelopment (NEPAD).

The SADC, as a RegionalEconomic Community, is one of therecognised building blocks of theAfrican Union. The Department hasbeen fully involved in the re-structuringof the SADC, which has been initiatedin order for the SADC to deliver tangi-ble achievements within the region, aswell as to play its role on the continent.Within the region the SADC remainsthe primary vehicle for South Africanpolicy and action to achieve regionaldevelopment within all developmentsectors. In addition, the SADC’s Organon Politics, Defence and Security isconcerned with regional defence andsecurity matters, including issues suchas drug trafficking, conflict preventionand post-conflict reconstruction.

Of particular note is the develop-ment of the SADC’s 15-year RegionalIndicative Strategic Development Plan

(RISDP), which is aimed at opera-tionalising the restructured SADC. TheRISDP has been developed in line withNEPAD, which will ensure that theSADC’s development agenda works intandem with the African Union.

At the continental level theDepartment has been pre-occupiedwith the development of the structuresof the African Union, namely theAssembly of Heads of State andGovernment, the Executive Council ofMinisters, the PermanentRepresentatives Committee, theCommission, the Pan-AfricanParliament, the Economic, Social andCultural Council, the Peace andSecurity Council, the African Court ofJustice, etc. The African Union has asocio-economic role in development aswell as a political mandate.

The political mandate will be ful-filled through the work of the AfricanUnion Peace and Security Council,which will be the standing decision-making organ for the prevention, man-agement and resolution of conflict.The Peace and Security Council willalso provide a collective security andearly-warning arrangement to facilitatea timely and efficient response to con-flict and crisis situations in Africa.

The African Union has adoptedNEPAD as its programme of action forsocio-economic development and the

structures of the African Union,amongst others, will be engaged in theimplementation of NEPAD-directedprogrammes.

NEPAD is a continental instrumentto advance people-centred develop-ment, based ondemocratic valuesand principles. Itcommits Africangovernments togood governanceand to detailedprogrammes ofaction within spe-cific time scales.It ensures an inte-grated approachto developmentneeds on the con-tinent, and at thesame time worksto redefine therelationship of thecontinent with theinternational com-munity, particular-ly the developedworld and multi-lateral institutions.

The work ofthe Department on the African continentwill continue to promote South Africa’sregional and multilateral interestsregarding the realisation of the African

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DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Strategic Plan – March 2004DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Strategic Plan – March 2004 PART ONE

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PART ONE

President Thabo Mbeki address to the First Extraordinary Summit of the AU in Addis Ababa 3 – 4 February 2003

AFRICA

The South African Governmentfirmly believes that the future of SouthAfrica is inextricably linked to thefuture of the African continent and thatof our neighbours in Southern Africa.National visions of building a united,non-racial, non-sexist and prosperoussociety are also relevant to our visionfor the continent. Coupled with this isthe understanding that socio-economicdevelopment cannot take place with-

out political peace and stability, andinversely, that political peace and sta-bility are a prerequisite for socio-eco-nomic development. Within this frame-work, our efforts are directed at creat-ing an environment in which all stateson the continent will achieve their fullpotential.

Our engagement with Africarests on two pillers:• Strengthening her institutions conti-

nentally and regionally viz theAfrican Union (AU) and theSouthern African DevelopmentCommunity (SADC) and supportthe implementation of Africa’ssocio-economic development pro-gramme (NEPAD).

• Strengthening of bilateral relations.This bilateral work will receivemore focused attention in the peri-od ahead.

The Department has been fully

involved in the re-structuring of

the SADC, which has been

initiated in order for the SADC to

deliver tangible achievements

within the region, as well as to

play its role on the continent.

Within the region the SADC

remains the primary vehicle for

South African policy and action

to achieve regional development

within all development sectors.

SOUTH AFRICA’S REGIONAL AND MULTILATERAL INTERESTS

to assist Lesotho to rise to "DevelopingCountry" status.

Central and West Africa

As far as conflict prevention,management and resolution are con-cerned, the peace process in theDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC)remains a priority for the SouthAfrican Government. Given the largeamount of effort and resources invest-ed by South Africa in the DRC peaceprocess so far, it is imperative forSouth Africa to help strengthen andbuild the Transitional Government inthat country, which was established

following the successful completion ofthe Inter-Congolese Dialogue. It isalso important for South Africa toassist the DRC with its process of post-conflict reconstruction and develop-ment. These processes are importantto ensure that the DRC can conductdemocratic elections in 2005, asdetermined by the All-Inclusive andGlobal Agreement on the Transition inthe DRC. The South AfricanGovernment is aware that a peacefuland stable DRC is critical for thedevelopment of sustainable anddurable peace and prosperity for theregion and for the African continentas a whole.

At the bilateral level, the WestAfrican sub-region is the region mostbeset by recurrent conflict. The resolu-tion of conflict in Côte d'Ivoire andLiberia remains of crucial importancein restoring stability to West Africa. Inaddition, South Africa, together withits partners, Nigeria and Libya, areundertaking trilateral efforts to assistSierra Leone on its post-conflict path ofdevelopment. South Africa's relation-ship with Nigeria, both at the bilateraland multilateral level, remains thefocal point of its interaction with thesub-region, which centres around theoperations of the Bi-NationalCommission.

23

Renaissance though the objectives ofthe African Union and NEPAD, in thefollowing areas:

Within Southern Africa we willseek to enhance the SADC so that it

can provide aframework withinwhich each mem-ber state will havethe opportunity toreach its full poten-tial in terms ofpeace, security, sta-bility and econom-ic and social devel-opment, as well ascivil society partici-pation and genderequity.

For the rest ofthe continent wewill seek to assist increating an archi-tecture for theAfrican Union by

means of which member states willreach their individual as well as col-lective potential in terms of peace,security, stability and economic andsocial development, as well as civilsociety participation and gender equi-ty.

We will pursue the implementa-tion of NEPAD in the context of the AUand SADC, as well as oversee the

national implementation of NEPADand the harmonisation of the national,regional and continental programmesof action with NEPAD.

The development of the regionaland continental mechanisms, namelythe SADC and the AU, will provide uswith instruments by means of whichconcrete NEPAD programmes can beidentified, developed and implement-ed. These mechanisms will alsoenable us to endow individual memberstates with the capacity to benefit fromNEPAD in a constructive and consoli-dated manner.

Note should also be taken of theefforts of the Department to ensure thatcivil society receives prominence in ourinteraction with continental andregional mechanisms. This is done inthe belief that a strong civil society,including the private sector, is anessential element in ensuring goodgovernance and can contributetowards enriching continental deliber-ations on all issues.

Southern Africa

In view of the fact that events inany Southern African country have adirect impact on South Africa,Southern Africa remains a priority inour foreign relations and our overallaim would be to ensure that these

states enjoy stability and prosperity.While the Southern African

Development Community (SADC) andthe South African Customs Union(SACU) represent the major thrust ofSouth Africa's relations with SouthernAfrican countries, direct bilateral ini-tiatives - through such instruments asJoint Commissions - have beenlaunched where certain issues orevents warranted priority attention.

Following the end of the war inAngola, the reconstruction of its infra-structure has become a priority, andSouth Africa's contribution to theseefforts should be channeled throughbilateral agreements, involvement bySouth African parastatals and busi-nesses, and encouragement of invest-ments into Angola. Angola will alsohold its national elections in 2005 andsupport for this process is critical.

In Zimbabwe it is important topromote the reconciliation process andencourage continuous dialoguebetween political parties and otherrole-players in that country, not onlythrough the SADC and AU, but alsobilaterally.

With Lesotho the major thrust inour bilateral relations should be toensure that Lesotho is removed fromthe list of "Least Developed Countries".Through the Joint Bilateral Commissionfor Co-operation, the main goal is thus



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PART ONE

South African President ThaboMbeki and Nigerian President

Olusegun Obasanjo consolidatingbilateral agreements during a

State Visit to South Africa by theNigereian President

NEPAD is a continental

instrument to advance

people-centred development,

based on democratic values

and principles. It commits

African governments to good

governance and to detailed

programmes of action within

specific time scales.


Strategic Plan – March 2004

25


Strategic Plan – March 2004DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS


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PART ONE

North Africa

South Africa, through the establish-ment of Joint Bilateral Commissionsenjoys constructive relations with thecountries of North Africa. These relation-ships are further consolidated throughSouth Africa’s interaction and co-opera-tion at a multilateral level.

The recent move to the normalisa-tion of relations between the West andLibya following the lifting of UnitedNations sanctions against Libya, and thelatter’s abandonment of its programme ofweapons of mass destruction, havebrought a degree of stability to theregion. It has also begun to create oppor-tunities for furthering economic relation.

The conflict between theMorocco and the Western Saharahowever, has suffered another setbackas a result of Morocco’s rejection ofthe latest Baker Plan. This impasse willfurther delay the revival of the ArabMaghreb Union (AMU).

The failure to resolve the conflict inthe Western Sahara and the inability byNorth African states to revive AMU, mayhave a negative impact on regional sta-bility, economic integration and the con-solidation of the African Agenda. Thispresents fresh challenges to South Africaand the African Union as a whole toexplore ways to resolve this protractedconflict and the revival of AMU.

ASIA AND AUSTRALASIA

Since 1994 South Africa’s inter-action with Asia has increased signifi-cantly: South Africa presently has 16residential Missions in 13 countries orterritories in Asia and Australasia.Eighteen countries from this region cur-rently maintain 30 diplomatic Missionsin South Africa.

Over the past two decades Asiahas emerged as one of the world’sfastest-growing economic blocs. Rapidgrowth in China, India and other South-East Asian states has made Asia one ofthe most dynamic regions in the world.Despite Japan’s economic woes, it isstill the second largest economy in theworld. This economic dynamism inAsia has generated tremendous busi-ness opportunities for South Africa.Japan and Taiwan feature prominentlyas markets for South African industrialproducts, such as vehicles, and as afflu-ence increases in China and India,exports of value-added goods to thesecountries are likely to grow.

While Japan, Malaysia andTaiwan already rank among the fore-most sources of foreign investment, thesignificance of China and India as afuture source of investment in SouthAfrica is expected to increase. SouthAfrica’s international companies arefinding attractive investment opportuni-

ties in China, Indonesia, Australia andThailand in diverse fields such as min-ing, minerals processing, electronicmedia and the petrochemical industry.

Nevertheless, the potential Asiaoffers as a market for South Africangoods and a source of direct invest-ment remains largely untapped.Exploiting these opportunities is one ofSouth Africa’s most important strategicobjectives in the region.

The assertiveness of this region inglobal politics is increasingly visible,as demonstrated by the high-profilerole played by key Asian countries inglobal affairs: China is a permanentmember of the UN Security Council,Japan is an influential member of theG8, while India and Japan harbourambitions to be permanent members ofa reformed UN Security Council. SouthAfrica and key Asian countries agreeon important multilateral issues, suchas the reform of the WTO and UN,international disarmament, small armsproliferation and environmental issues.Continued co-operation with Asiancountries on these multilateral issues iscrucial to the multilateral foreign poli-cies South Africa is promoting.

Despite its generally perceivedidentity as a unified bloc, Asia com-prises a rich diversity of cultures andpeoples. Greater Asia today alsoincorporates former Soviet Union

East Africa

The effortsaimed at negotiatinga successful and all-inclusive peaceprocess in the GreatLakes region, and inBurundi, in particu-lar, were intensifiedby the involvementof the South Africangovernment. Withthe personal involve-ment of the Presidentand the DeputyPresident, the ArmedPolitical Parties andMovements conclud-ed a ComprehensivePower Sharing Agreement, paving theway for sustainable transitionalarrangements and a focus on the dem-ocratic elections that lie ahead. Giventhe complexity of the conflict, it isimportant for South Africa as the facili-tator and lead country to remain asso-ciated with the peace process and tocreate an environment conducive todemocratic elections taking placetowards the end of the year. Thedeployment of the African UnionMission in Burundi has contributed tostabilisation in the country.

Bilateral relations with countries

in the Great Lakes region have beencharacterised by significant efforts atestablishing a structured framework forco-operation. South Africa’s co-opera-tion with Rwanda, Uganda and Kenyais centred on the establishment of theJoint Commission of Co-operation, andin Tanzania on the PresidentialEconomic Commission, which is intend-ed to consolidate relations. To consoli-date the peace process in Burundi, theSouth African Government should facil-itate their post-conflict reconstructionand development programmes.

Developments in the Horn of

Africa are dominatedby the prospect of ac o m p r e h e n s i v epeace agreementbeing signedbetween theGovernment ofSudan and the SudanPeople’s LiberationMovement. It isbelieved that peacein the Sudan wouldhave a positive influ-ence on stability inthe region. The inter-national communityshould utilise theopportunities createdby such an agree-ment to the benefit of

the people of the region and to facilitatedevelopment towards the peaceful reso-lution of conflict in the north. In this con-text, a solution in the Darfur region is ofparticular concern.

The Eritrea-Ethiopia dispute is acause of concern, but it is in both coun-tries’ interests that the dispute beresolved amicably through the inter-vention of the UN and the AU.Similarly, the signatories of the Somalipeace process should be encouragedto maintain the momentum towards theimplementation of the peace agree-ment.

Above: Sudanese Vice President Machar received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr NC Dlamini Zuma during a State Visit to South Africa

NEPAD has been well received inSouth East Asia, as is illustrated by thereception President Mbeki received atthe XIIIth Asean Summit in Cambodia.As a result of South Africa’s participa-tion in the Summit, a decision wastaken to launch the Asia-Africa Sub-Regional Organisations Conference(AASROC I) in Bandung in April 2003.The AASROC process is co-hosted bySouth Africa and Indonesia. AASROCII will be held in South Africa duringAugust 2004, and it is envisaged thatthe process will culminate in the estab-lishment of an Asia-Africa Forum for co-operation between regional economiccommunities in Asia and Africa duringa Summit Meeting in Bandung in 2005to commemorate the Afro-AsiaConference of 1955.

Countries of the North (especial-ly the US and EU member states)recognise Asia as a strategicallyimportant region and their increasing-ly high-profile involvement with the keycountries of Asia on both economicand political fronts bears testimony tothis. The location of military bases inJapan an South Korea, and a signifi-cant military presence in Uzbekistan,illustrate the strategic importance theUS attaches to the region.

Several key countries of Asia areleading role-players of the South. Theyshare common membership with South

Africa in international organisationssuch as the NAM, G-77 and theCommonwealth. South Africa alsoplays a leading role in the IndianOcean Rim Association for RegionalCo-operation (IOR-ARC).

South-South dialogue has beenboosted significantly by the establish-ment in June 2003 of theIndia/Brazil/South Africa DialogueForum (IBSA). Emphasis is to beplaced on developing IBSA into apowerful global forum to drive South-South co-operation, the agenda of theSouth, and to champion the needs ofthe developing world. The first trilater-

al Ministerial Meeting of IBSA washeld on 4 and 5 March 2004 in NewDelhi, India. South Africa will host thesecond during the first quarter of2005.

Asia comprises both developingand developed countries. In thisregard it makes sense for SouthAfrica to strengthen ties with thisstrategically important region, “tostrengthen our relations with countriesof the South, and improve our multi-faceted relations with the developedworld,” as stated by President Mbekiin his State of the Nation Address dur-ing 2003.

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Asian states that are reasserting theirAsian roots against their previouslyenforced Eastern European identity.These countries offer new economicopportunities for South Africa, interalia in the oil and mining industries. InDecember 2003 South Africa openedan Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Several important Muslim coun-tries, e.g. Indonesia, Malaysia,Bangladesh, Pakistan, Brunei,Afghanistan and Indonesia, are Asianand have significant influence in theMuslim world. All of the aforemen-tioned countries are members of the52-nation Organisation of IslamicConference (OIC). Malaysia, whichassumed the Chair of NAM duringFebruary 2003, also became theChair of the OIC in October 2003.South Africa’s partnership withMalaysia in the pursuit of commongoals in the international arena is ofcritical importance, as confirmed dur-ing the State Visit by President Mbekito Malaysia last year. President Mbekihas also committed himself to visit theAsean Region during 2004.

Key Asian countries are alsocommitted to contributing to the imple-mentation of NEPAD. Several existingAfrica-Asia co-operation forums, suchas the Tokyo International Conferenceon African Development (TICAD) andthe China-Africa Co-operation Forum,

are being synchronised with NEPAD inorder to serve as implementing institu-tions. The India-Africa Fund is to beinvestigated as to the possibility of itsbeing included in this group. Duringthe third TICAD conference held inTokyo in September 2003, PresidentMbeki and other African heads ofstate and government were reassuredof the Japanese government’s commit-ment to the goals of NEPAD.

A comprehensive plan of action

designed to promote Chinese involve-ment in Africa was agreed upon dur-ing the December 2003 China-AfricaCo-operation Forum’s MinisterialMeeting in Addis Ababa. DeputyPresident Jacob Zuma, Minister ofForeign Affairs Nkosazana DlaminiZuma and other senior African partici-pants in these important deliberationsreceived unqualified support for thecontinent’s development goals fromChinese Premier Wen Jiabao.



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PART ONE

• More than 27% of South African foreign trade, some R70 billion per annum, is conducted with

countries in Asia.

• Asia could be a strategic partner in the areas of human resources development, agriculture,

infrastructure construction, ICT, health and private sector development for South Africa and

Africa in the implementation of NEPAD.

• Tourism from Asia is an important source of income for South Africa and there is a need to

further explore opportunities in new and existing markets.

• Investment from the region has grown significantly since 1994 and continues to expand.

• The present ODA to South Africa from Japan, the third largest contributor, is significant.

• Co-operation between Asia and South Africa in international forums such as the WTO, UNCTAD,

IMF and the World Bank is crucial in promoting the interests of the countries of the South.

ASIA’S ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE TO SOUTH AFRICA AND NEPAD:

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad and Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, MrTetsuro Yano of Japan during the Sixth meeting of the Japanese South Africa Partnership Forum.

29



MIDDLE EAST

The primary strategic signifi-cance of the region emerges from itsrole as the repository of and conduitfor the world's largest oil reserves aswell as other sources of energy such asnatural gas. In addition to this, thereis the impact it has on international sta-bility as a result of the Arab/Israeliconflict. More recently, the region hasbeen associated with the emergence ofso-called "Islamic extremism" and hasbeen identified by countries such asthe USA with the emergence of terror-ist networks such as Al-Qaeda. Mostrecently, the issues of Iraqi compliancewith UNSC resolutions on disarma-ment and the US-led war against Iraqhave dominated the internationalagenda. US Pressure on Iran and Syriawith regard to weapons of massdestruction is another recent issue.

The need to achieve a lastingand comprehensive peace in theMiddle East remains an internationalissue. The region has been commonlyperceived as a source of politicalvolatility in the global landscape. Aprimary source of this volatility hasbeen the ongoing issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the historicalconflict between Israel and the Arabworld. At a broader level, theregion's status as the repository of the

world's largest oil reserves has had acrucial significance both for its placein international politics and its domes-tic politics. As noted above, morerecently, Western-based apprehen-sions about "Islamic extremism" andterrorist networks have also generatedconcerns about the stability of theregion.

The Middle East Conflict isundoubtedly one issue that has giventhis region its global profile in the lastfifty years. But even beyond theMiddle East Conflict, South Africa, likemany other major countries, would haveto remain engaged with this region.

A number of factors account forthe importance and strategic geopoliti-cal significance of this region.

The Middle East is the gatewaybetween Europe and Asia, andbetween East and West. It abuts ontwo major seas of enormous impor-tance - the Mediterranean and the RedSea. It is a neighbour to major emerg-ing powers - India, China, Russia andTurkey. It is also the historical centre ofthe Christian, Islamic and Jewishfaiths. It is a place where Western andEastern civilisations interface and inter-mingle. But perhaps the most signifi-cant factor involved remains the factthat the region possesses the world'slargest reserves of oil and gas.

For South Africa, the region is

important in the following respects:• It represents an enormous market

for South Africa's industrial, com-mercial and agricultural products.It is a promising source of potentialinflow of tourists, investment andtechnical cooperation.

• The region provides 80% of SouthAfrica's oil imports. There are pos-sibilities for military industrial



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PART ONE

cooperation with key markets inthe region.

• The region has a profound culturaland religious resonance with mil-lions of South Africans whoadhere to the three majormonotheistic religions of the world.

• The cultural, religious, historicaland strategic affinity between thisregion and the northern part ofAfrica itself makes it important inthe context of African renewal.

• The region represents an importantconstituency for the agenda of the

South. With about 300 millioninhabitants, the region remains amajor player in the forums ofdeveloping countries.

• However, until a comprehensive,just and permanent solution to theMiddle East Conflict is found, theMiddle East region will not be ableto realise its full potential and willremain a key source of instabilityfor world peace and security.

South African engagement in the Middle Eastconflict

The current government inheritedstrong bilateral relations with Israel thathave been constructively transformedand built upon. The South AfricanGovernment is also held in high regardby the Palestinian people and theirleadership for its achievements in thestruggle against apartheid and innation building. Our country containssizeable Jewish and Muslim minorities,both of which ensure that South Africancivil society is concerned with the issuesthat dominate the region.

South African experience of transition andtransformation

The fact that both the Israelis andthe Palestinians expressed their appre-ciation of the way in which South

Africa has handled this almostintractable issue at WCAR is in itself anindication of the possibility that SouthAfrica may play a meaningful role inbringing the two sides of the conflictback to the negotiating table. SouthAfrica has remained consistent in itsapproach and, due to our own experi-ence of negotiating a comprehensive,just and lasting peace, has credibilitywith those Israelis and Palestinians whoare genuinely committed to forgingtheir own peace agreement.

International context

It is impossible for any state thatundertakes bilateral relations, in partic-ular with countries in the region orAfrican Arab countries, and that oper-ates within multilateral forums toremain either isolated from or indiffer-ent to the Middle East conflict. It wouldbe possible, however, to attempt tomaintain a low profile and simply playa reactive role. South Africa, given thefactors elaborated above and in itscapacity as a Troika member of NAM,will continue to play a pro-active role.

What guides South Africanengagement in seeking an equitablesolution to the conflict?• There is no military solution to the

conflict.

Below: Minister of Foreign Affairs DrNkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Minister of

Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of IranDr Kamal Kharrazi in discussion during the

7th Joint Bilateral Commission.

egations expressed great appreciationand interest in the experiences ofnegotiation shared by the SouthAfrican delegation. Subsequently, pro-peace elements in the region havebeen inspired by the Retreat to take uppublic positions that challenge thelogic of confrontation. The partici-pants also praised the informal, non-prescriptive and constructive atmos-phere created by the President and theSouth African hosts.

South Africa is largely dependenton the Middle East as a supplier of oil,which has resulted, in the case of Iran

and Saudi Arabia, in a negative bal-ance of trade accounts. Some Gulfstates have recognised the importanceof diversification (notably the UnitedArab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar),although most oil-producing countriesremain primarily dependent on a sin-gle-commodity economy. The degreeto which most governments have beenable to subsidise their indigenous pop-ulations via oil revenues has meantthat prevailing political dispensationshave remained largely unchallenged,but that there is significant underdevel-opment of human resources. Most ofthese countries are significantlydependent on expatriate labour(including South Africans).

Since 1994 South Africa's inter-action with the Middle East hasincreased greatly. South Africa current-ly maintains 12 Missions in the region,and 14 countries from the Middle Easthave diplomatic missions in Pretoria.South Africa maintains cordial relationswith all countries of the region. In gen-eral, there has been support in princi-ple for both the AU and NEPAD,although this must be leveraged interms of concrete commitments. Formalco-operation between the Gulf Co-oper-ation Council (GCC) and the SADC isbeing pursued. South Africa has alsoapplied for Observer status in theOrganisation of Islamic Conference

(OIC). Recently, the League of ArabStates has indicated that it intendedopening an office in Pretoria.

Politically, South Africa's contri-butions to the Middle East PeaceProcess and towards resolving the cri-sis over Iraq have increased its profilein the region and have earned itenhanced respect. This must be com-plemented with an enhanced and revi-talised economic strategy and initia-tive. The potential for trade and invest-ment remains significant and has yetto be pursued to the fullest extent.

South Africa needs to establisha time line within which it will re-engage an emerging Iraqi govern-ment. The process of return to sover-eignty in Iraq will continue to receiveSouth African support through multi-lateral channels. South Africa aims toopen a micro-mission in Iraq as soonas the return to sovereignty becomesa viable process and as soon as thesecurity situation on the ground inIraq allows.

South Africa has expanded itsrelations in the Levant by the appoint-ment of an Honorary Consul inLebanon and the opening of anembassy in Syria. The expansion ofeconomic relations with these coun-tries and their role in the Middle Eastpeace process will be focal points inthe building of relations in the future.

31



• A political solution can be foundthrough negotiation, in good faith,between the two sides and adher-ence by both parties to the agree-ments made.

• There can be no security for Israelor for the Palestinians, or any last-ing peace in the region, whilst thePalestinians’ inalienable right toself-determination remains unful-filled.

• To this end there is a need toestablish a sovereign PalestinianState, with its capital in Jerusalem,alongside the State of Israel, bothexisting within secure borders.

What underpins these guidelines?

UNSC resolutions 242, and 338;2002 resolutions 1397, 1402, 1403,1405 and 1435; and UNGA resolutionsES-10/10 and ES-10/11. The Land forPeace principle and the applicability ofthe 4th Geneva Convention to thePalestinian Occupied Territories (of whichSouth Africa is a High Contracting Party),as well as UNGA resolution 194 of 1947in relation to the return of Palestinianrefugees, serve as internationally recog-nised benchmarks in this regard.

What action is South Africa tak-ing in engaging with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Presidential Peace Initiative

In consultation with key role-play-ers involved in the Middle East PeaceProcess, President Mbeki hosted aPresidential Retreat at Spier wineestate in Cape Town from 9th to 11thJanuary 2002. The Retreat wasattended by senior participants fromPalestine, led by Minister Saeb Erekatand Minister Zaid Abu Ziad, and fromIsrael by former Justice Minister YossiBeilin and Speaker of the KnessetAvraham Burg. Several current andformer South African Cabinet Ministerswere also present. This initiative takesforward the NAM mandate and willbe followed up after South Africahands over the NAM Chair to Jordan.

The principal aims of the Retreat were:• To support the ongoing initiatives

towards the creation of afavourable environment to restartpeace negotiations;

• to share the South African expe-rience in negotiation, peacemak-ing and transition to democracy;and

• to strengthen the peace camps inPalestine and Israel as well as thegeneral dynamic towards peacein the region.

This unique event produced a

‘Spier Three Party Communiqué’ thatdemonstrates the spirit of commitmentto dialogue and partnership for peacebetween the three parties present.The Retreat provided an opportunityfor those on both sides of the conflictwho wish to return to the peaceprocess to re-engage in direct commu-nication for the first time in over a year.Both the Israeli and the Palestinian del-



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PART ONE

Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad and a Palastiniandelegation at a press conference

Documents

PART ONE D F A D F A PART ONE Strategic Plan – March 2004