South Africa backs Iran’s stance on the right of a country to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad said on Monday.
”South Africa will not accept any prevention of the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes. It is a demand we make and we support Iran in that regard,” Pahad told journalists in Pretoria on the first day of the second session of the South Africa-Iran Deputy Ministerial Working Group’s meeting.
He emphasised South Africa seeks a world free of nuclear weapons.
”The right [to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes] is something logical and in line with the international community’s intentions,” said Ahmad Azizi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, who is co-chairing the meeting with Pahad.
The deputy ministers said a group of 136 Iranian doctors will be coming to work in South Africa. No date was given for their arrival.
Pahad said to his knowledge Cuba is the only other country with which South Africa has a similar arrangement. He said it will be up to the Department of Health to decide where the doctors will be posted.
Azizi said Iran has stationed doctors in about seven African countries, including Ghana, Mali, Niger and Sudan. There are also doctors stationed in a number of countries in the Persian Gulf.
Pahad said Iran is South Africa’s second-largest supplier of oil and that business ties with the country are being developed.
He said Azizi is to meet Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa to discuss the possible formation of a South Africa-Iran business forum that will allow the business sectors of both countries to ”get to know each other”.
Mpahlwa has been discussing the matter with members of South Africa’s private sector.
”The Iranian government is looking for ways in which South Africa can export to Iran’s needs, in order to narrow the terms of trade between the two countries,” said Pahad.
The Iranian government has also given South Africa proposals on furthering ties in technical training, agriculture and security, in the context of progress in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, said Pahad.
The two countries have memoranda of understanding on tourism and environmental affairs in order to increase tourism between the countries and to discuss the effects of climate change.
The situation in the Middle East was also discussed at the meeting.
”Iran is vital to finding solutions in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East,” said Pahad. He said Azizi was briefed on South Africa’s efforts to aid the peace process in the region.
Pahad said Azizi was also briefed on the African stance on reform in the United Nations, and Iran in turn briefed South Africa on its stance.
”It is agreed that there should be transparency and more representivity in the Security Council,” said Pahad.
The Iranian delegation will be in the country until Wednesday. — Sapa