Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor says cooperation between African countries has become even more important as countries face the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges.<\/P>
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She was addressing an end of year media briefing on the department\u2019s implementation of South Africa\u2019s foreign policy throughout the year.<\/P>
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\u201cSouth Africa is a strong proponent of African unity and solidarity. We believe that continental unity, peace and prosperity are best started at bilateral levels\u2026 when individual states reach out to other states and seek to forge closer bilateral ties. Stronger bilateral ties provide the foundation for greater Pan-African unity,\u201d she said on Tuesday.<\/P>
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The Minister said the country had embarked on forging those stronger bilateral ties over the past year with President Cyril Ramaphosa hosting a State Visit by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and the President embarking on visits to four West African countries.<\/P>
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COVID-19<\/P>
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The Minister said the department continues to engage countries that have imposed \u201cunscientific and discriminatory travel bans on our country\u201d.<\/P>
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\u201cWe are pleased that diplomacy is bearing fruits. Some of [the countries] have already begun lifting these restrictions that are inflicting so much harm on our economy and families. It turns out that the Omicron variant had long been in the backyard of most of these countries who rushed to close their borders,\u201d she said.<\/P>
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Pandor said efforts to fight COVID-19 on the continent and the country has provided some funding into the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to provide vaccines to at least 26 African countries that may not have access to the vital resource.<\/P>
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\u201cThe main purpose of the [African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team] is to ensure that the African continent secures vaccines and has blended financing resources for achieving Africa\u2019s COVID-19 vaccination strategy which targets vaccinating a minimum of 60% of Africa\u2019s population.<\/P>
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\u201cOur donation will provide some assistance \u2013 modest assistance \u2013 toward achieving that target,\u201d she said.<\/P>
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Southern African Development Community<\/P>
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The Minister highlighted that South Africa continues to serve in many organs of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) \u2013 including as Chair of the SADC Organ for Politics, Defence and Security.<\/P>
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\u201cOur responsibility [as Chair of the SADC Organ for Politics, Defence and Security] is to continue to support efforts aimed at achieving and maintaining security and the rule of law in the SADC region.\u201d<\/P>
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The Minister added that instability and conflict in Mozambique remains of \u201cparticular concern\u201d to the SADC nations and highlighted that the region had continued its efforts to assist the nation.<\/P>
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\u201cThe SADC region remains unwavering in its commitment to continue supporting…Mozambique in achieving peace and security. The leaders of our region have committed to contributing towards the efforts to bring about lasting peace and security, as well as reconciliation and development in the Republic of Mozambique,\u201d she said.<\/P>
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Source: South African Government News Agency<\/P>
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