1. SOUTH AFRICA’S STRUCTURED COMMISSIONS WITH NORTH AFRICAN STATES

3. NORTH AFRICA
Arab countries with Islam as dominant religion - secular states
Occupied by both religious & colonial forces
Close historical ties with Middle East / Gulf States
Close economic & historical ties with Mediterranean Europe

4. Political destiny tied to Africa and Arab world
Revival of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)
Emergence of Libya from international isolation - implication for regional politics
Most developed region in Africa after RSA
All states in region (except Mauritania = LDC) on Medium Human Development i.t.o. UNDP (Tunisia & Libya outrank SA)

5. ALGERIA
Est agreements signed: transport; trade; minerals & energy; defence; science & technology; etc.
Regular political consultation between Heads of State & Ministers.
Consolidated SA’s strategic relations with Algeria
Numerous agreements still under negotiation

6. Mid-term Review Meeting of Snr Officials of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) scheduled for September to evaluate status of implementation of 4th BNC
Overlap in constitution of TWGs
TWGs operate at varying levels of efficiency
Lack of implementation remains serious problem

7. Way-Forward:
BNC to be held annually with a Snr Officials Mid-Term Review Meeting
Reconfigure TWGs - taking into consideration:
- Thematic approach, informed by content, not form
- Work to be streamlined

8. - Needs to be focussed & made more relevant
Has to add value to the relationship

9. EGYPT 17 Agreements signed - solid legal framework established
Little implementation, except for arts & culture; tourism; & bilateral air services
10 extra-governmental agreements signed over a range of issues
SAA signed code-sharing agreement with Egypt Air in July 2005

10. Egypt is an important player on continent, in Arab politics & active on developmental agenda = Political partnership based on common interest very important for SA
JBC in existence since 1995
Bilateral trade rapidly declining since 1998

11. Way-Forward: Progress to be assessed after an 18-24 month cycle
Need to focus engagement on political consultation & international issues; trade issues; tourism; agriculture; and arts & culture, science and technology

12. LIBYA
Diplomatic relations established in 1995 amid UN sanctions & Lockerbie issue
Through SA interventions UN sanctions lifted & Libya welcomed back into international community
Establishment of JBC in 2002 gave impetus to bilateral relations
2nd JBC scheduled for 2006

13. Cooperation in mineral & energy sector very good - ESKOM currently refurbishing all power stations in Libya - SA construction & consulting companies involved in infrastructural projects
Several Agreements signed to date
Visit of former Dep-Pres. Zuma earlier in 2005 gave impetus to relations

14. Reciprocal visit by Prime Minister Shukri Ghanem later in 2005 (to be hosted by Dep-Pres. Ngcuka) envisaged to strengthen bilateral economic relations

15. Way-Forward:
Implementation of agreements through programmes of action for specific sectors
Mid-Term Review at Snr Official level to assess progress made

16. MAURITANIA Diplomatic relations established in 1995
1st official visit - Visit by Minister Zuma in January 2005
Agreed in principle to establish a Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC)
1st JCC can only be held once the situation in Mauritania has been normalised following the coup.

17. MOROCCO Inaugural JBC held in Morocco in 1998
4 agreements signed - 15 under negotiation
Volume of trade has increased steadily since 2000

18. Interest in Morocco will have to be resurrected with other depts due to long period of inactivity

19. TUNISIA 4th JBC was held in SA in July 2004
State visit on October 2004
16 Agreements signed to date
Legal framework to be completed in areas of trade & investment; defence; and arts & culture
Multilaterally Tunisia is active in peacekeeping operations on the continent

20. Need to encourage development of programme of action for specific fields: medical; agriculture; art & culture; sport; etc.
Current programme to remove cataracts in rural areas by Tunisian opthamologists is a major success
SA drawing lessons from Tunisia on its successful poverty alleviation programme

21. Way-forward:
JBC to be held bi-annually with annual Mid-Term Reviews at Snr Official level