JEDDAH, 27 April 2004 -— South Africa has embarked on an ambitious program of transformation, reform and a strategy for renewal.

In the past decade of freedom and democracy, we have overcome a cycle of political instability. We are now breaking the cycle of poverty and underemployment, and strengthening good governance in South Africa as well as in Africa, in partnership with friendly countries outside the region.

Part of our strategy is to promote the use of regional organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the South African Development Community, to become the building blocks to advance our collective interests in the global arena. The key to this strategy is to endeavor to harmonize South Africa’s value-based foreign policy and that of our partner, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Together in the multilateral forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations we can advance. Noble ideas were born in the crucible of South Africa’s struggle for the dignity of human kind: that all may enjoy the fruits of their labor; that no one in our countries or regions will be discriminated against because of the accident of their birth; that no human should be denied, dispossessed, oppressed or suppressed.

The President of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, was one of the architects of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). He campaigned for and was mandated on the 14th April, 2004, in our country to advance the ideals of democracy, human rights and good governance, building partnership between government and all stakeholders particularly the youth and private sectors, proponent of popular participation in development. The mandate extends to include the promotion of a comprehensive integrated approach to sustainable development and termination of the unequal relationship with the developed countries, to be replaced by a new partnership that is based on mutual respect, trust, responsibility and accountability.

Much has been achieved, but more still needs to be done jointly. South Africa and Saudi Arabia can mobilize the resources in our respective regions to achieve peace and stability to promote a sustainable environmental development policy.

In conclusion, it is clear that we have embarked on an ambitious path, it is equally clear that it is now irreversible path and one to which South Africa and its partners must dedicate their efforts for the sake of future generations.

Let us pray that God grants us the ability to overcome poverty of mind, poverty of soul and poverty of body.