STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR GEOFFREY DOIDGE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE IRAN NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
PRETORIA COUNTRY CLUB, 2 FEBRUARY 2010

Your Excellency, Ambassador Ebrahimi Asl,
Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me to represent my Government as we celebrate the thirty-first anniversary of the Islamic Revolution today with the Government and People of Iran. Iran has set an example for many countries, including South Africa, on how to use its strategic resources to develop its economy for the benefit of its people. Revenues generated from oil have been deployed into building infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals and water supplies. I am pleased to congratulate the Government of Iran for its achievements in this regard over the last 31 years.

South Africa and Iran maintain a very solid bilateral relationship, characterised by the frequent exchange of high-level visits, the strengthening of trade relations, a greater diversification of spheres of co-operation and one of the longest-running and most active Joint Commissions in which the South African Government is involved. Iran is also one of the biggest suppliers of crude oil to South Africa. We are also proud of the fact that we have been able to make two significant investments in Iran through MTN and Sasol, which are contributing to the development of Iran’s economy, but are also indicative of the value and trust we place in the relationship.

We hope to expand and diversify these relations even more during 2010 and look forward to discuss the details during the Eleventh Meeting of the Joint Commission, which we expect to host later this year. We envisage discussions on co-operation in areas such as Health, Arts and Culture, Media, Communications, Investment, Trade, Mining, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Transport and Energy. We will pursue this co-operation, because it will assist us to achieve the five key objectives set by our Government, namely healthcare, job creation, the eradication of crime, housing and education for all.

On the multilateral front, we will continue to co-operate with Iran within the context of the Non-Aligned Movement and regional organisations such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation. We are also pleased to note that Iran has placed a high priority on the development of its relations with countries on the African continent. In this regard, Iran’s initiatives to support and assist us to deal with the twin challenges of poverty and underdevelopment have not gone unnoticed.

Your Excellencies, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, it is my wish that South Africa and Iran continue to work together in the fashion that has characterized our relations since 1994. Our mutual understanding and friendship are treasured by the people of South Africa. Once again it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the Islamic Republic of Iran on their National Day. I wish you the very best of health, peace and prosperity.

I thank you.