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24 March 2009

Minister of Defence of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Hon, Nelson Jobim and your delegation
Secretary for Defence Politics, Strategy and International Affairs, Lt Brigadier Gilberto Burnier
Commander of the Air Force, Lt Brigadier Juniti Saito
South African Acting Secretary for Defence, Mr Tsepe Motumi
Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), General Godfrey Ngwenya
Senior officials and officers of the Department of Defence (DoD)
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

Today marks another important step in our journey to strengthen ties with Brazil, the fifth largest country in the world. We are very delighted to welcome you and your delegation to our shores, Mr Minister. I believe you will enjoy the warmth of our country's hospitality and friendliness of our people.

South Africa's diplomatic relations with your country have continued to grow in a dynamic and fruitful way following the visit to South Africa in 1996 by former President Cardoso. During his visit, a Presidential Declaration was signed by the two Heads of State, signifying the importance of the bilateral relations between our two countries.

During his follow-up visit, diplomatic relations between our two countries were further enhanced when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning consultations on issues of common interest, was signed between the two Heads of State.

This was followed by the establishment of a Joint Bi-national Commission in 2000 during a visit to your country by former President Thabo Mbeki. To cement further our relations, President Lula da Silva visited South Africa in 2003.

Minister Jobim, we meet at an opportune and important time in the history of not only South Africa, but the African continent as whole, when South Africa will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament in June of next year (2010). As you know, in June this year, South Africa will host the Confederations Cup which, in a manner of speaking, will be a rehearsal for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

I am pleased to say that all necessary mechanisms for South Africa to co-operate with Brazil on security issues are in place to ensure that we deliver a secure world cup soccer tournament.

The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum identified the need for a better co-ordinated approach to new threats to security and to social and economic development. That view will be among several positions that will define security requirements for the soccer World Cup.

We value the military diplomatic relations between our countries, which culminated in the signing in June 2003 of the Agreement on Co-operation in Defence Related Matters.

The agreement provides for the establishment of the South Africa/Brazil Joint Defence Committee which must promote the implementation of this agreement.

The agreement seeks to achieve the following:
* Promotion of defence related matters, especially in the field of research and development, acquisition and logistics support
* Exchange of knowledge
* Exchange of experience in scientific and technological areas
* Engagement in combined military exercises and exchange of information
* Collaboration in the procurement of military equipment.

We need further to strengthen the various agreements we have signed to ensure effective response to our common challenges hopes and aspirations.

We seek today further to facilitate and regulate our bilateral co-operation to increase the collaboration concerning the joint research and development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems.

We also wish to strengthen our system regarding the exchange of information, research and the development activities of UAV systems; the creation of opportunities for joint future development and the production of UAV systems, including cost sharing.

The rapidly developing military diplomatic relationship between our two countries has seen the exchange of military representatives from 1995. To date there have been several naval exercises in the Southern Atlantic Ocean.

Both our navies have successfully participated in several ATLASUR exercises over the past years and regular visits of high ranking military officials have continued over the years in pursuit of strengthening our bilateral relations.

In the face of the changing security dynamics, there's even a greater need not only to strengthen our military co-operation but to also monitor the implementation of these agreements between our militaries.

It is my hope that our deliberations today will indeed a long way to enhance our military-to-military relations, as has been witnessed by the various exchanges between our two countries.

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Defence
24 March 2009