| Government’s Programme of Action - 2006 | |
| International Relations, Peace & Security Cluster | ||
| Updated 07 Feb 2007 | ||
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| Actions | Departments | TimeFrame | Progress update - 07 Feb 2007 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CONSOLIDATION OF THE AFRICAN AGENDA | ||||
| 1.1 | Strengthen the African Union and its structures | ||||
| 1.1.1 | Mobilise support for the harmonisation and rationalisation of Regional Economic Communities as well as for the regional integration process | DFA, all Depts | In Oct-06 an Extraordinary SADC Summit noted progress towards a Free Trade Area in 2008 & reaffirmed the resolve to achieve Customs Union by 2010, stressing the need to consider developmental integration e.g. infrastructure, poverty eradication | ||
| 1.1.2 | Strengthen governance and capacity in the AU | DFA, NT | In Oct-06 Cabinet directed that the Secondment Policy be finalised without further delay to facilitate the Secondment of South African officials to SADC and the AU | ||
| 1.1.3 | Operationalise the AU Specialised Technical Committees | DFA, relevant Depts | After finalisation of the study on STCs, the AU Commission indicated that after processing it will be submitted to member states for their inputs prior to adoption by the AU Commission | ||
| 1.1.4 | Implement the AU Gender Declaration | DFA, Presidency | SA has made a commitment to strengthen the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women by seconding an SA expert. | ||
| 1.1.5 | Support the Pan-African Parliament | DFA, Parliament | The Sixth Session of the PAP held in Johannesburg in Nov-06 | ||
| 1.1.6 | Support the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) as a credible interface between government and civil society on issues of the African Agenda | DFA | In Sep-06 discussions took place between DFA and ECOSOCC to finalise the SA NEPAD Strategy. It was agreed that ECOSOCC would convene a civil society workshop in Nov-06 and that its results would be considered for incorporation into the Strategy. | ||
| 1.1.7 | Operationalise the African Court of Justice and the African Court on Human and People's Rights | DoJCD, DFA | Jul-06 AU Summit referred the revised Single Legal Instrument back to Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General for reconsideration and finalisation. Their report is to be submitted to the next Ordinary session. | ||
| 1.1.8 | Establish AU Financial Institutions | NT, DFA | National Treasury is preparing a “roadmap” for SA’s participation in the process of establishing the African Central Bank, African Monetary Fund and African Investment Bank. | ||
| 1.1.9 | Engage the African Diaspora | DFA, | 2006 | In Sep-06 the Africa and Diaspora Conference adopted a Plan of Action in order to position culture at the centre of all its policies and programmes. | |
| 1.1.10 | Strengthen bilateral relations with Angola and Nigeria | DFA, Relevant Depts | Work in progress. | ||
| 1.1.11 | Strengthen AU-EU Co-operation | DFA | Work in progress | ||
| 1.1.12 | Monitor migration issues | DHA | In Sep-06 the UN General Assembly held a High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development. SA represented G77 & China and called for a comprehensive and balanced approach in the implementation of migration policy and service delivery | ||
| 1.2 | Southern African Development Community (SADC) | ||||
| 1.2.1 | Conclude the restructuring of SADC | DFA | SADC Council of Ministers directed SADC Secretariat to set up a special meeting of the Council in Feb-07 to discuss recommendations of the Task Force & Ministers of Finance and Investment on the review of the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM) | ||
| 1.2.2 | Strengthen governance and capacity in SADC, especially Secretariat | DFA | Cabinet has directed that the Secondment Policy be finalised without further delay to facilitate the Secondment of South African officials to SADC and the AU | ||
| 1.2.3 | Work towards the full implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 1st Phase | DFA, all Depts | 2007 | The Extraordinary SADC Summit of Oct-06 called for the creation of a Development Fund to be expedited to harness regional trade potential & to address infrastructure, food security and other supply side challenges . | |
| 1.3 | Peace, security, stability and post-conflict reconstruction | ||||
| 1.3.1 | Support the AU peace and Security Council | DFA, Relevant Depts | In Sep-06, a Working Group met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to reaffirm the principles that underlie the Post Conflict & Reconstruction & Development Policy adopted by the Jul-06 Banjul Summit | ||
| 1.3.2 | Operationalise the Early Warning System | DFA, Relevant Depts | NICOC is continuing to establish the National Early Warning System. The ICT development platform is at a stage of being tested for operation. It is envisaged that after the “go live process mode” the system would be fully operational. | ||
| 1.3.3 | Establish the African Standby Force | DFA, DOD, Relevant Depts | The current focus of the establishment of the African Standby Force is on Committees dealing with infrastructure logistics, communication, finance and peace support operation doctrine. SA is currently participating in the Peace Support Doctrine. | ||
| 1.3.4 | Adhere to the Common African Defence and Security Policy | DFA, DOD, Relevant Depts | SA is developing a mobile hydrographical capability to assist with hydrographic surveys and marine cartography of the Mid-African Great Lakes. | ||
| 1.3.5 | Review of the White Paper on Peace Mission | DFA, Relevant Depts | A Memorandum on the Review of the White Paper is due to be re-submitted to the Executive for consideration following government wide consultations | ||
| 1.3.6 | Burundi | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | Negotiations between the Burundi govt & the PALIPEHUTU-FNL, the last remaining rebel movement, were finalised in Sep-06 with the signing of a comprehensive cease-fire agreement facilitated by SA | ||
| 1.3.7 | Comoros | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | SA contributed to holding of peaceful Presidential Preliminary elections in Apr and Presidential elections May through deployment of SANDF personnel as part of AU deployment. | ||
| 1.3.8 | Cote d'Ivoire | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | In Oct-06, the Peace & Security Council (PSC) of the AU extended Pres Gbagbo’s mandate by a further year. Prime Minister Banny was given all necessary powers and means to implement all the objectives of the peace initiative. | ||
| 1.3.9 | Democratic Republic of Congo | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | The SA National Observer Mission observed the presidential run-off and provincial elections in Oct-06 as well as the campaigning, election & counting processes | ||
| 1.3.10 | Equatorial Guinea | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | In Feb-06 UNSG Kofi Annan began a mediation process between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to settle the territorial dispute between the two countries over three resource rich islands in the Gulf of Guinea: | ||
| 1.3.11 | Ethiopia, Eritrea | DFA, Presidency, Relevant Depts | The UN Security Council (UNSC) again extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea by 4 months. The UNSC called on both parties to remove all restrictions on the movement of UN personnel in the Temporary Security Zone. | ||
| 1.3.12 | Liberia | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | Security was tightened in the capital Monrovia in Apr-06 after former soldiers engaged in violent protests over unpaid severance packages | ||
| 1.3.13 | Mauritania | DFA | Following the 2005 coup the AU sent an envoy. The Military Council for Justice and Democracy (MCJD) was instructed by the AU to democratise in less than two years | ||
| 1.3.14 | Somalia | DFA, DOD, Presidency, relevant Depts | In Sep-06 progress was made in talks between the Union of Islamic Courts and Transitional Federal Government regarding security arrangements & power sharing modalities. AU Peace & Security Council decided to deploy an 8 000 men strong force in Somalia | ||
| 1.3.15 | Sudan | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | In Sep-06, the AU Peace and Security Council extended the mandate of the AU Mission in Sudan till end Dec-06. It also decided to expand the Mission to 11 000 troops. Talks continue on creation of Trilateral Committee (SA, NCP & SPLM/A) | ||
| 1.3.16 | Swaziland | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | The new Swazi Constitution came into effect in Feb-06, without resolving differences regarding democratisation | ||
| 1.3.17 | Uganda | DFA, Presidency | SA has been accepted as one of the Friends of the Facilitator of the peace negotiations between the Uganda govt & the Lord Resistance Army. | ||
| 1.3.18 | Western Sahara | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | In Aug-06 SA govt approved the signing of a Co-operation Agreement on Humanitarian Aid between SA & the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. | ||
| 1.3.19 | Zimbabwe | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, relevant Depts | Peace and stability in Zimbabwe is still threatened by the worsening economic and socio-economic crisis. | ||
| 1.4 | NEPAD | ||||
| 1.4.1 | Provide capacity and political support for the implementation of NEPAD programmes and priority sectors | DFA, SAMDI, all Depts | The Dept of Social Development held a workshop to conceptualise the social dimensions of NEPAD to mainstream its objectives and principles | ||
| 1.4.2 | Facilitate the implementation of NEPAD priority sectors (infrastructure, agriculture, environment, tourism, ICT, health, human resources, and science and technology) and their integration with AU and SADC process | DFA, Relevant Depts | The Central African Ministerial Conference on Science, Technology & Innovation was held in Cameroon, in Sep-06. It resolved to confer yearly to among others facilitate & monitor implementation of Africa’s Science & Technology Consolidated Plan of Action | ||
| 1.4.3 | Strengthen NEPAD coordination mechanism in SA and SA’s leadership in various NEPAD sectors | DFA, Presidency, DTI | Refer to 1.1.6 | ||
| 1.4.4 | Establish and utilize Continental Development Funds for NEPAD projects | DFA, Relevant Depts | Infrastructure Consortium for Africa established. South Africa’s PIC investigating utilisation of national pension funds for development projects. | ||
| 1.4.5 | Operationalise the African Peer Review Mechanism | DPSA, Presidency, DFA | 2006 | The National Governing Council met in Sep-06 to consider the revised Programme of Action, the draft Generally Accepted Practices Analysis, Codes & Standards Report. They were handed to the Review Mission to finalise the draft Review Report for SA | |
| 1.4.6 | Promote achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Africa | DFA, Relevant Depts | Work in progress | ||
2 | SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION | ||||
| 2.1 | Asian-African Sub-Regional Organisations Conference (AASROC) - finalise and implement joint programme of action under New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership | DFA | Jul-06 | The first NAASP Senior Officials Meeting was held in Sep-06 in SA. African-Asian participants renewed pledges to co-operate in political, economic &socio-cultural affairs, and to cooperate at Regional Economic Community level and on Women and Youth issues | |
| 2.2 | Non-Aligned Movement, including XIV NAM Summit | DFA | Sept-06 | XIV NAM Summit held in Sep-06 in Cuba reaffirmed value of solidarity, unity & cohesion among developing countries adopted Declaration on Purposes & Principles & Role of NAM in the present global situation | |
| 2.3 | India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) | DFA | The 1st IBSA Summit, including two side events (Academic Seminar and Business Summit) took place in Sep-06 in Brazil. A Joint Declaration was adopted and five trilateral agreements concluded. | ||
| 2.4 | G77 ( Chair New York Chapter) | DFA | Dec-06 | As Chair SA facilitated common G77 positions on many issues and represented the G77 in talks with other groupings. SA helped generate consensus in the G77 such as a common stance on ECOSOC reform | |
3 | GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: POLITICS AND SECURITY | ||||
| 3.1 | UN reform | DFA | In the 60th session of UN General Assembly in Sep-06 calls were made for direct negotiations among Members to expedite Security Council reform. In Oct-06 SA was elected to Security Council as non-permanent member from Jan-07-Dec-08. | ||
| 3.2 | Terrorism | DFA, DOD, SAPS, relevant Depts | In Sep-06 UN General Assembly adopted a broad global strategy to counter terrorism. SA supported the strategy but was concerned at its failure to address state terrorism, extra-judicial killings, extra-ordinary renditions and illegal detention. | ||
| 3.3 | Weapons of mass destruction | ||||
| 3.3.1 | Iran and nuclear technology | DFA | In Oct-06 SA was confirmed as next Chairperson of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, from 2007-08. Its goals are to ensure that nuclear items aimed for peaceful purposes are not diverted to unsafe and unguarded nuclear activities or nuclear weapons. | ||
| 3.4 | Iraq | DFA | SA continues to monitor the situation in Iraq and to support the UN and other multilateral efforts to reconstruct and stabilise the country | ||
| 3.5 | Middle East peace process (Israel and Palestine) | DFA, Presidency | SA called for urgent resumption of talks on the Roadmap to peace in the Middle East and for the implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access of people. SA stressed the need for cessation of hostilities by the all concerned | ||
4 | GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC | ||||
| 4.1 | Multilateral negotiations | ||||
| 4.1.1 | World Trade Organisation | DTI, DFA, Relevant Depts | In Sep-06 SA participated in meetings of the G20, NAMA 11, Cairns Group, which all called for resumption of talks and reaffirmed a commitment to a developmental outcome for the Doha Development Agenda | ||
| 4.2 | Bilateral negotiations | ||||
| 4.2.1 | South African Custom Union (SACU) - United States of America Free Trade Agreement | DTI, Relevant Depts | The US has proposed that in lieu of the failed SACU-US Free Trade Area, a non-negotiating mechanism should be established for the discussion of issues important to both SACU & the US, such as trade promotion opportunities. | ||
| 4.2.2 | SACU-India & China Free Trade Agreement | DTI, Relevant Depts | SACU awaiting official confirmation from Indian counterparts that a fresh mandate has been obtained from the new Indian govt enter into negotiations with SACU on a Free Trade Area | ||
| 4.2.3 | SACU-European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) | DTI, Relevant Depts | All SACU members have signed the SACU-EFTA agreement. The agreement is ready for the various domestic ratification processes of the SACU members. SA’s aims to have the agreement ratified by Parliament by early 2007. | ||
| 4.2.4 | SACU-MERCUSOR | DTI, Relevant Depts | The SACU-Mercosur meeting took place in Aug-06. Some issues still need to be resolved like additional tariff preferences, product-specific rules of origin, customs co-operation & automotives | ||
| 4.3 | Implement outcomes of major international conferences | All Depts | A Framework for Sustainable Development in SA is finalised. It is to be published for comment and will aid social partners and state organs refine and realign policies and methods to create a coherent and regular system for sustainable development | ||
| 4.4 | Global Finance | NT | Yearly Meetings of World Bank and IMF were held in Sep-06. SA represented the Africa Group 1 Constituency at the Development Committee and Nigeria represented the constituency at the International Monetary and Finance Committee | ||
| 4.5 | North-South Dialogue | ||||
| 4.5.1 | Cooperation with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) | DFA, relevant Depts | Deputy Minister OF Trade and Industry Davis’ participated in the Annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (joint session with non-OECD countries) in May-06 | ||
| 4.5.2 | Group of Eight (G8) Summit, implementation of the G8 Africa Action Plan | DFA, NT, Presidency | SA attended 7th Africa Partnership Forum in Oct-06. The Draft Communiqué makes no provision for action by development partners and Africa Co-Chairs have requested that the Communiqué be re-drafted to better reflect African concerns | ||
| 4.5.3 | World Economic Forum | NT, Presidency | The World Economic Forum held its annual meeting in June in Cape Town. The theme was economic growth. The outcomes are key to setting the tone for the global economy as well as for the Davos Annual Forum | ||
5 | CROSS-CUTTING PRIORITIES | ||||
| 5.1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup | SRSA | Work in progress | ||
| 5.2 | Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Bid | DST, DTI | SA proposal to site the SKA in the Northern Cape was sent to the International Steering Committee in Dec-05. | ||
| 5.3 | Tourism | DEAT, DFA, GCIS | A Tourism Indaba was held in Durban on May-06 | ||
| 5.8 | Participate in the Progressive Governance Network | Presidency, DFA | Ongoing | Work in progress | |
| 5.9 | HRD: Enhance capacity for economic diplomacy and strengthen Foreign Service Institute | DFA, NT | Discussions underway | ||
| Report created: 07 February 2007 | |||||