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MAP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

BRIEFING TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON THE TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Presentation by Ambassador Grobler: Acting DDG: Americas and Europe 21 October 2008. MAP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

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MAP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

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  1. BRIEFING TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON THE TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Presentation by Ambassador Grobler: Acting DDG: Americas and Europe 21 October 2008

  2. MAP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

  3. Profile of the Russian Federation • Population 142.7 million • Size 17 075 400 sq Km • Capital Moscow • Major language Russian • Life expectancy 58(M) 72(F) • Monetary unit 1 rouble = 100 kopecks • Main exports Oil and oil products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, weapons and military equipment • Main imports Machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, sugar, semi-finished metal products • GDP US$1.8 trillion • GDP Growth 6.2% • GDP per capita US$9 800

  4. Domestic Politics • President Mr. Medvedev • Prime Minister Mr Vladimir Putin • Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sergei Lavrov • Federal state with a Republican form of government • Bi-cameral Federal Assembly which consists of: - the upper chamber, Council of Federation - the lower chamber, State Duma • Has 89 provinces • Presidential elections held 2 March 2008 • Revival of Russia as a major world power • Multilateral co-operation rooted on national interests • Strengthening of influence in Commonwealth Independent States (CIS)

  5. Economic Overview • Russia is the most economically developed area of former USSR • Rich in Mineral Resources, Gas, Oil, diamonds, platinum group metals • Economic mainstay – Oil and Gas and Construction boom • Russia supplies 70% of the EU’s energy • Eradication of poverty of rural sector of economy through increase of grants and basic services: electricity, education • WTO aspirations – South Africa supportive of Russia’s ambitions

  6. Foreign Relations • Near Abroad Policy: Consolidation of influence in CIS • Strengthening of relations with neighbours in Asia ( China, India, Japan) – • Envisages formalisation of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) to exclusion of SA • A permanent member of the UNSC, - supportive of UN Reform • Member of G8 – supportive of the Africa Action Plan • Relations with Africa- debt forgiveness, peace keeping operations

  7. Tensions with former Soviet States : Georgia – 2004 Rose revolution, aspirations to join NATO and the EU, August 2008 military conflict, recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia fully fledged states Ukraine - 2005 Orange revolution, aspirations to join NATO and EU, Gas and oil pipeline disputes, potential territorial disputes Poland and Czech Republic – Installation of US Missile Shields, Military posturing, Economic strife with Poland leading to failure to adopt a New Co-operative Framework between Russia and the EU

  8. African Agenda - Russia’s interests in Africa mainly in the Mining and Agriculture sectors • Important African Countries to Russia – SA, Egypt, Angola, Namibia, Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire - Debt Relief and cancellation – linked to mining concessions - Peace-keeping: Russian soldiers and security personnel are involved in UN Peacekeeping operations in Africa (Burundi, Rwanda and Sudan)

  9. HISTORY OF RELATIONS • Moral and material support to the liberation struggle since the 1960’s • Increased training of personnel in the aftermath of the 1976 uprising • Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 leading to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and Apartheid government in South Africa • High-level visits - 1998 Deputy President Mbeki - 1999 President Mandela - 2006 President Putin to South Africa - 2007 Prime Minister Fradkov to South Africa - Annual ITEC visits by Minister Dlamini Zuma and Minister Trutnev

  10. Bilateral relations with South Africa • Establishment of Diplomatic relations in 1992 • Treaty of Friendship initialled by Presidents Mandela and Yeltsin in 1999 • Treaty of Friendship and Partnership signed by Presidents Mbeki and Putin in 2006 • Treaty Ratified by Russia in December 2007 • Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) -established in 2001 -key sectors: Trade, investment and banking Minerals and energy Transport, aviation and maritime Water and Forestry Social sector- Health and Education Science and Technology Business Council • Trade statistics 2008 - Exports from SA to Russia: US$ 237,831million - Imports from Russia to SA: US$ 2,283,517 million

  11. International Agenda: Common positions - Iran: Non-proliferation and the Peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy – - UN reform - Russia is supportive of SA’s stand on the need for comprehensive reform of the UN to reflect current realities - Peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East

  12. Treaty of Friendship and Partnership • The Treaty envisages strategic partnership between South Africa and Russia • Envisages regular high level interaction on bilateral and multilateral issues • Enhanced collaboration to ensure a just and equitable international system based on the UN Charter • Commitment to multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - 1968 Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty - 1972 Convention on Prohibition, Production and Stockpiling of Biological Weapons - 1993 Convention on Prohibition of the Use of Chemical Weapons

  13. Co-operation through Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Co-operation (ITEC): - Science and Technology - Minerals and Energy - Water and Forestry - Education - Health - Transport - Agriculture - Arts and Culture • Separate agreements are envisaged to implement the Treaty where existing Agreements are not covered (Annexure B : Signed Agreements) • Treaty may be amended by mutual consent of parties • Treaty to be ratified and enter into force upon the dates of exchange of instruments of ratification

  14. Thank you!

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