/ 24 November 1999

SA-KUWAIT MOVE TO MILITARY PACT

SOUTH Africa and Kuwait are eager to boost their military cooperation, Defence Minister Patrick Lekota said on Monday, shortly before the end of a three-day visit to the emirate. He said the two countries are convinced of the need to draw up and sign such a cooperation agreement, the official KUNA news agency reported. Lekota previously visited the United Arab Emirates, where he signed a defence cooperation accord to work to boost arms sales and cooperate in military training and joint exercises. South Africa, a leading supplier of artillery to the oil-rich Gulf, displayed its Seeker observation drones and long-range missiles at the five-day show in this southern Gulf emirate.