dirco quarterly report summary 01 october to 31 december 2013

DIRCO Quarterly Report Summary

01 October to 31 December 2013

26 February 2014

Structure of the presentation

• Programme 1: Administration • Programme 2: International Relations• Programme 3: International Cooperation • Programme 4: Public Diplomacy and State

Protocol services

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Programme 1: Administration

• 20 vacant posts filled

• Consular services provided, including the legalisation of 8777 public documents

• Comply with National Treasury requirements with regard to the submission of financial statements

• Provided 27 training programmes during the reporting period which included training programmes on Economic Diplomacy and Mediation

• Hosted the 1st BRICS National Youth Consultative Forum

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Programme 2: International Relations

• Advanced national priorities, the African Agenda and the Agenda of the South through:

(14) Structured Bilateral Mechanisms:

• (6) Africa Bilateral

• (5) Asia and the Middle East

• (3) Europe

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• Advanced national priorities, the African Agenda and the Agenda of the South through:

(12) High-Level Visits:

(3) Africa Bilateral (5) Asia and the Middle East (4) Europe

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• Total number of investment seminars held and participated in (42):

Americas and the Caribbean: 6 Africa Bilateral: 4 Asia and the Middle East: 18 Europe: 14

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Programme 3: International Cooperation • Participated in the UNGA Second Committee meetings in New

York, 7-28 October 2013 & delivered statements advancing SA positions on the following issues:

- Financing for Development

- South-South Cooperation

• Participated in UNHCR Executive Committee Meeting and contributed in articulating SA positions on the following:

- Call for multi-faceted approach & response to resolve the Syrian refugee situation

- Commitment to a world without statelessness

- Establishing mechanisms to enhance security situation of refugees

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Programme 3: International Cooperation• Contributed in advancing SA’s positions during 19th

Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) & the 9th Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol Session, in Warsaw, from 11-22 November 2013 and put forward its views in the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action on the work programme for pre-2020 ambition and on the 2015 agreement

• Contributed to the development of a new convention of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata & Kumamoto, 7-11 October 2013. South Africa signed the Agreement and Final Act on 11 October 2013

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Programme 3: International Cooperation

• Contributed to the outcome of the 37th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) held in Paris from 5-20 November 2013 at which SA delivered a national statement promoting its main interests in the six UNESCO sectors

• SA elected to four UNESCO subsidiary bodies namely- International Coordinating Council of the Programme on Man &

Biosphere- Intergovernmental Council of the Management of Social

Transformation- Council of the International Bureau of Education- Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sports

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Programme 3: International Cooperation• Participated in the United Nations Development Organisation

(UNIDO)General Conference in Lima, Peru from 2-6 December 2013 and advanced SA’s national interest in a National Statement delivered at the Conference & contributed to the Lima Declaration

• SA chaired the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme Plenary which took place in JHB, 19-22 November 2013 and drafted and submitted the Chairperson’s report & annual resolution to the UNGA in New York, 18 December 2013

• SA & developing members positions advanced during deliberations on the CHOGM Communiqué, adopted at CHOGM in Sri Lanka, 17 November 2013

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• Participated and advanced SA’s positions in two G20 Sherpas’ Meetings in Moscow, 23-24 October 2013 & Sydney, 11-13 December 2013 respectively

• Contributed towards the discussions on the working practices of the G20 in 2014,the structure of the Brisbane Leaders declaration and the global growth challenges

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• 120 legal opinion related to international law of which:- 8 legal opinions related to matters in respect of African

Agenda, AU, SADC, UN and Security Council

- 11 legal opinions related to matters of Air Law, Climate

Change, Environmental conventions, Law of the Sea, Space

law, Science and Technology, Antarctic Treaty, Continental

Shelf and Sustainable Development- 101 legal opinions related to diplomatic law and provincial

agreements

• 156 legal opinions related to domestic law of which:- 101 legal opinions related to agreements, contracts and other issues- 55 legal opinions related to claims, labour law related matters and

litigation

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• Prepared for & hosted the Extraordinary African Capacity Immediate Response to Crisis (ACIRC) Summit in Pta in Nov. 2013 which resulted in the establishment of the ACIRC

• Participated in the SADC Election Observer Missions to the first & second round of Presidential Elections in the republic of Madagascar that took place on 25 October and 20 December 2013 respectively

• Prepared, participated and provided substance and logistical support to the 3rd PAP Session held from 21 October – 2 November 2013

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Programme 3: International Cooperation• Participated in the Technical Experts meeting that took place

in Lusaka, 1-2 October 2013 to discuss infrastructure projects that would be presented to the private sector at the Dakar Financing Summit

• Participated in the NEPAD Consultative Meeting of the NEPAD Steering Committee that took place in Dakar, 26 November 2013. A key outcome was the negotiation of the Draft Dakar Reform Document for the African Partnership Forum that will be presented to the 30th NEPAD Heads of State & Government Committee

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• Prepared for and hosted the Extraordinary SADC-ICGLR Summit in Pta, 4-5 November 2013 that deliberated on peace and security matters in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region

• Contributed to discussions of the NAM Working Groups, the NAM Ministerial meeting and the situation in Palestine

• Hosted the 8th BRICS Inter-Departmental Technical Senior Officials’ Team meeting in Pta, 18 Nov 2013 and the Inter-Ministerial Committee, 19 November 2013 and discussed the preparations for the 6th BRICS Summit at both meetings

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• 21st IPM between the SA Parliament and the European Parliament was held in Strasbourg, 8-10 October 2013.

• Participated the 33rd & 34th Session of the Parliamentary Assemblies held in Brussels and Addis Ababa, 20-27 November 2013

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Programme 4: Public Diplomacy and State Protocol services

• Seven (7) media briefing sessions were hosted by principals to articulate South Africa’s position on international developments

• Nine (9) Public Participation Programmes were undertaken to enhance public understanding of South Africa’s international engagements

• Rendered Protocol services during 30 incoming and 21 outgoing visits

• Coordinated 3 Special Events (SADC/ICGLR Summit, BRICS NSA Ministerial Meeting, State Funeral)

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Challenges• Difficulty to fill vacant posts within four months, the delay with

verifications at SAQA

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Thank you

dirco quarterly report summary 01 october to 31 december 2013

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