Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will on Wednesday receive Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas on his State Visit to the country.
The Presidency said President Abbas will conduct bilateral discussions with President Zuma during his visit on issues of mutual interest and common concern, inter alia, bilateral relations between South Africa and Palestine, the Middle East Peace Process, as well as other multilateral issues.
“Bilateral relations between Palestine and South Africa are facilitated through a Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) that was established in 1995,” the Presidency said.
It added that progress in establishing bilateral cooperation agreements proceeded apace, resulting in the signing of nine bilateral cooperation agreements and during President Abbas’ State Visit, three agreements will be signed.
The first agreement will be the Agreement for the Establishment of a Joint Commission of Cooperation.
“The overall objective of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the State of Palestine, for the Establishment of a Joint Commission of Cooperation, is to establish a structural mechanism that will monitor and guide the conduct of bilateral relations between South Africa and Palestine,” the Presidency said.
The second agreement will be in a form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations.
“The primary objective of the MoU is to create a mechanism that will allow South Africa and Palestine to hold political consultations twice a year, to deliberate on issues of mutual interest, particularly the question of Palestine,” the Presidency said.
The last is the Agreement on Higher Education and Training, which is set to have the overall objective of ensuring the development of cooperation between the two countries, in the field of higher education and training.
“In addition, South Africa supports international efforts aimed at the establishment of a viable Palestinian State, existing side by side in peace with Israel within internationally recognised borders, based on those existing on 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the Presidency added. - SAnews.gov.za
