"Belgium and South Africa - partners in Africa"

H.E. J.M. Matjila
Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa

Brussels, September 13, 2005

"Ambassador Grauls, Ambassador Labouverie, Ambassador Geleyn and Ambassador Lint, honourable members of the Royal Institute for International Affairs and invited guests.

It is indeed a great honour for me to say a few opening remarks at this experts seminar.

A special word of welcome also to Dr. Jakkie Cilliers and his team from the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa. The Institute has built up a reputation as one of the foremost research institutes on security issues in Africa.

I have to congratulate the Belgian Federal Foreign Ministry for having taken this initiative in conjunction with the Royal Institute for International Affairs. The expert's seminar takes place at an apposite time when there is a strategic rethink/mutual desire taking place on how to move South African-Belgian relations forward and give more substance to the relationship, not only in the bilateral context but also to the advantage of Africa, especially the Great Lakes Region.

Direct South African-Belgian relations date as far back as 1875. Since then, these relations have naturally followed the major historic contours of the 20th Century- Mausers used by the Boers in South African War of 1899-1902 originated in Belgium; more than a thousand South Africans found their last resting place in the killing fields of Flanders during the First World War, around 180 Belgian Air Force personnel served with the South African Air Force after the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany in the Second World War, and in the struggle for the liberation of South Africa from apartheid, many Belgians were in the forefront of the international campaign.

South African-Belgian relations moved into a new and close dimension after the democratisation of South Africa in 1994. This was patently in evidence through the enthusiastic financial, cultural and promotional support which the Belgian Federal Government, Flanders, Wallonia and the German-speaking communities provided for the Celebration of South Africa's Ten Years of Freedom during 2004.

Belgium has become a significant development cooperation partner of South Africa. It has allocated 19,3 million Euro for the period 2001 to 2006 in support of dealing with the critical challenges facing the young democracy, amongst others, HIV/aids and tuberculosis, the Validation Campaign of the Land Restitution Commission and support for the South African Police.

Regarding efforts to bring about peace and security in the Great Lakes Region, Belgium supported the South African Peace Mission in Burundi with 5 million Euros and the Third Party Verification Mechanism in the DRC with 1 million Euros.

Belgium is also a significant financial contributor to the NEPAD Secretariat and was equally instrumental towards the establishment of the Africa Peace Facility (APF) to ensure the availability of resources to address peace, security and stability in Africa.

Given the strategic position of Belgium as the gateway into Europe and South Africa as the hub into Sub-Saharan Africa, it is not surprising that Belgium counts amongst the top ten trading partners of South Africa.

Antwerp, especially, is of importance to South Africa given the strategic location of its port, as well as the headquarters of the European diamond industry. The harbour of Antwerp has done a great deal to build capacity in South African ports and is now doing likewise for littoral SADC countries.

Given the cultural and language affinity with South Africa, there is a great deal of people-to-people contact between the two countries. Numerous visits to South African and Belgium take place by artists, musicians, dance groups, as well as film festivals and tourism promotion activities.

Many Belgians have settled in South Africa. Currently, around 40 000 Belgians live in South Africa, many of whom are involved in SMMEs. About 1000 South Africans live in Belgium. Around 49000 Belgian tourists visit South Africa per annum.

The federalisation of Belgium has had the added consequence of further strengthening relations with South Africa.

The region of Flanders has declared South Africa a strategic partner with active bilateral cooperation in the fields of culture, education, sports, science and technology. Flanders is also actively supporting SMME development in South Africa as well as with gemmology and mineral (diamond) beneficiation. South Africa works together with the Walloon region in the areas of logistics, transportation and gene technology. South Africa and the German-speaking community have had numerous constructive meetings during the last year on possible areas of cooperation.

South Africa and Belgium also share many similar views on global security issues. For example, the pre-eminence of multilateralism and a global rules-based system, support for the reform of the UN system and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the combating of terrorism and the International Criminal Court. Moreover, both countries are deeply committed to bring about peace, security and development in the Great Lakes Region.

Both former Belgian foreign minister, Mr Louis Michel, now the EU commissioner for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, and the incumbent foreign minister, Mr Karel de Gucht, have to be commended for the active and constructive roles, which they are playing to move the peace process forward in the Great Lakes Region.

The purpose of the official visit by President Mbeki to Belgium in November 2004 was to strengthen bilateral relations and to elevate relations to a higher level by continuing to build on our many shared interests. Very positive discussions were held with His Majesty, King Albert II, Prime Minister Verhofstadt and the Ministers-President of Flanders Wallonia and the German-speaking community.

During the said visit, a Protocol of Intent to establish a Joint Commission was signed between South Africa and Belgium. The objective of the Joint Commission is to develop a shared understanding and common positions on global governance, defence and security issues, as well as working jointly towards a peaceful and stable Great Lakes Region.

What ar the challenges for the strategic partnership between South Africa and Belgium? I would like to leave a number of ideas on the table:

• There is a need to launch/operationalise the Joint Commission as soon as possible. We should maintain the recent momentum in our bilateral relations;

• Secondly, we need to further expand economic relations between South Africa and Belgium to its full potential. The planned visit by His Royal Highness, Prince Philippe could serve as a catalyst in this regard. I am also pleased to learn that the Royal Institute for International Affairs is planning a further experts' seminar towards the end of the year focusing on our economic relations.

• Thirdly, to we need to expand the close cooperation in Security Sector Reform (SSR) in the DRC to other areas in need of reform in the DRC government, as well as trilateral economic cooperation.

• Fourthly, we need to work together and assist the people of the DRC to hold free, fair and democratic elections and further cooperate together to ensure the reconstruction of that huge country in the heart of Africa

• Fifthly, we should not hurriedly disengage from Burundi simply because the democratic processes have been successful with a newly-elected parliament and president in place. The immense challenges in that sister country require our continued assistance.

• The people of Rwanda need our support as they address the challenges of reconciliation and reconstruction of their battered land. We should give whatever collective support we can so that they could overcome the deep wounds of the past and construct a better tomorrow

• Lastly, Belgium should continue sensitizing the enlarged EU on the challenges and aspirations of the people of Africa and ensure that African issues are not relegated to the bottom of the EU agenda. In this context, we want to thank the Belgian political leaders and teams of capable diplomats and bureaucrats for continually raising the plight of Africa within the EU family.

South Africa also needs to place a residential military attaché at the Mission in Brussels to improve channels of communication between the two defence forces. This matter is currently under consideration.

The challenges of the DRC are so enormous that they require the cooperation of all international partners under the direction of the AU and the UN.

To overcome these challenges, we all need to play our unique and complementary roles. Naturally, this requires close coordination between all the friends/partners of the DRC.

On a bilateral level, this perforce requires close cooperation and coordination between South Africa and Belgium. South Africa recognises that Belgium, because of historical reasons, has a deep understanding of the Great Lakes Region and an important role to play there. South Africa, in turn, is passionately committed to the African Renaissance and to bring about peace, security and the eradication of poverty in the African Continent. I am delighted that this topic will be the focus of much of the attention today.

Today is also the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of SADC in Brussels. Several events have been arranged as part of this. Unfortunately, this requires that I would have to break away after the discussions of Panel I. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the results of the seminar.

I wish you the best of success.

Thank you".