SA, Iraq to strengthen relations
Bathandwa Mbola
15 April 2009
South Africa is to share its Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) experiences with Iraq, to help reconcile parties in that country.
This emerged during a South Africa/Iraq bilateral meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Fatima Hajaig and her Iraqi counterpart, Labeed Abbawi, in Pretoria this week. The meeting was the first official visit by representatives of the new Iraqi government to South Africa.
The TRC, a court-like body assembled to help deal with apartheid atrocities, was seen by many as a crucial component of the transition to full and free democracy in South Africa.
Anyone who felt that he or she was a victim of apartheid violence was invited to come forward and be heard. Perpetrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from prosecution.
"We have agreed to provide knowledge and experience to the Iraqi people to assist them in overcoming their problems and help in reconciling the parties in Iraq," said Hajaig.
She said the idea of different Iraqi groups getting together in peaceful discussions could help resolve differences through dialogue. "We believe that the process of political discussion and dialogue is one that will ultimately benefit these groups as well as the Iraqi people."
Bilateral relations
Meanwhile, Hajaig said the two countries had resolved that more needed to be done to increase trade between South Africa and Iraq, especially in the oil sector.
She said the parties discussed broad economic relations, and in that context, the Iraqi delegation informed them that the Iraqi oil industry had "tremendous" potential for involvement and investment.
Trade between South Africa and Iraq increased from around R90-million in 2004 to over R200-million during the first five months of this year, despite years of conflict there.
Hajaig and Abbawi also discussed the potential for business visits between the two countries. "There are a lot of Iraqi business people based in [neighbouring] Dubai, Jordan and Kuwait, and we think that can become the starting point between the business sector and parastatals."
Hajaig said the South African government had always believed Iraq was "very strategically placed", and that when peace finally came it would be a major political player in the Middle East region.
For his part, Abbawi said Iraq viewed South Africa - the only African country with an embassy in Iraq - as important, and that it envisaged strengthening existing political and economic relations with it.
"There are a lot of potential resources in Iraq, such as oil, gas and minerals. Iraq needs oil for reconstruction, and we need all kinds of help from friendly countries, and South Africa can do a lot to help the Iraqi people and government," Abbawi said.
"We had a vacuum of power because of the collapse of the regime and the dismissal of the army and police force, but now we are in the process of rebuilding our country."
Source: BuaNews
