|
Apr 11: Plassnik: "South Africa - a key partner in Africa" |
|
|
Foreign Minister meets with South African counterpart
 Vienna, 11 April - "South Africa enjoys an important position in Africa and has often proved useful as a mediator in conflicts. It is also necessary to make South Africa’s voice of reason and reconciliation heard in the current tense situation in Zimwabwe. Further escalation and destabilisation must be prevented," affirmed Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik following talks with her South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, with reference to tomorrow’s special summit of heads of state and government from Southern Africa in Zambia.
"We are working on developing an increasingly close partnership between Europe and Africa," emphasised the Foreign Minister, referring to numerous Austrian initiatives such as last November’s Peace and Security in West Africa conference in Ouagadougou, Austria’s active participation in elaborating the EU-Africa strategy as well as her own meetings in Ouagadougou and on the margins of the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon with African women active in business, politics and civil society in their respective countries. Austria also supported the establishment of an office of the African Union in Vienna. “We shall continue our consistent commitment to ever stronger European-African networking," stated Plassnik. At the beginning of May Austria will organise a seminar entitled Achieving sustainable peace in Africa to be held at Princeton University in the U.S. This will be followed in June by a seminar near Johannesburg on peace and development in Southern Africa, which will also be attended by the members of the Southern African Development Community.
"Africa and Europe are close neighbours who can learn a great deal from each other, and the common EU-Africa strategy has been tailored as a basis for this," stated Plassnik. The Foreign Minister also pledged to continue her commitment to augmenting the participation of African women in business as well as increasing their profile and engagement in political life. A large proportion of Africa’s diversity and energy lies in women. "It is important to raise awareness for their contributions," she continued.
"Our friendly and cordial relations find their expression at all levels," asserted Plassnik, referring to the city partnerships between Vienna and Johannesburg and the regional cooperation between the Western and Eastern Cape provinces and Lower and Upper Austria. South Africa is Austria’s most important trading partner in Africa. The ongoing increase in trade and the development of commercial ties between Austria and South Africa in key areas - such as the automotive sector, the development of infrastructure, renewable energy and tourism - has been impressive.
"South Africa is an important ally in disarmament questions, such as combating the use of antipersonnel mines and the international ban on cluster munitions. In the field of disarmament, South Africa’s destruction of its nuclear arsenal was exemplary to the whole world," continued the Foreign Minister.
Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) is supporting South Africa, particularly in the creation of decentralised structures. Employees of local authorities, for instance, undergo training programmes in order to be able to independently plan and implement measures necessary for rural development. "In rural areas it is particularly important to help people help themselves, which guarantees the long-term improvement in the situation of the population," stated Plassnik. In cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime the ADC also provides funds for a crisis centre for women and children who have become victims of violence in their homes.
Contact:
Federal Ministry for
European and international Affairs
Press Department
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3262, 4549, 4550
Fax: ++43 (0) 50 1159-213
abti3(at)bmeia.gv.at
|
