Egypt and South Africa would continue to work together to build the framework for economic and political cooperation, Presidents Hosni Mubarak and Thabo Mbeki said on Tuesday.
Briefing the media in Pretoria after bilateral discussions, Mbeki said South Africa would continue to maintain ”excellent” relations with Egypt.
”As far as I know, Mr President, we are not fighting about anything,” Mbeki said to laughter from the audience.
He said quite a bit of work would need to go into strengthening bilateral relations with Egypt and that Mubarak had offered to provide South Africa with doctors and engineers.
He said Egypt had become ”conscious” of the needs and shortages in South Africa, and that the offer was made ”very readily”.
Mubarak said he was ”gratified” with the outcome of the discussions.
”Our discussions reiterated our mutual resolve to enhance our standing cooperation, increase investment, mining and energy, scientific research and technology as well as other priority fields of common interest,” he said.
Issues discussed included peace and security on the continent as well as the role played by the two countries to enhance African interaction.
Mbeki said he had thanked Mubarak for his work on the Palestinian issue.
”We are always very conscious and we always follow the interventions that you make with regard to what is a difficult issue, but the matter of the future of the Palestinian people is one that is very close to our hearts.”
Mubarak said talks were already taking place between Palestinian Authority chairperson Abu Mazen and the Israelis.
Mubarak said he had discussed the case of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s indictment by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide.
”We did discuss this issue and we are both making efforts to find a solution and we are trying hard,” said Mubarak.
He suggested ”the case could perhaps be postponed for about 12 months during which something could happen to decrease the tension”.
Mbeki said he agreed completely with Mubarak and that the country would be interacting with al-Bashir ”sometime later this week”.
There were also processes such as bringing stability to the Darfur region and the implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement that required al-Bashi’s participation.
”It does not help to move those two important processes forward to now be considering these indictments,” he said.
Mubarak’s visit was the first of its kind by an Egyptian president to South Africa since the end of apartheid. – Sapa