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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 07 Aug 2009 Title: US, SA pledge to strengthen ties -------------------- By Chris Bathembu Pretoria - United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham-Clinton and her South African counterpart International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane have committed to strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Ms Rodham-Clinton held talks with Ms Nkoana-Mashabane earlier on Friday after arriving in the country on Thursday night. She also paid a courtesy visit to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe at the Union Buildings and was expected to be a guest at a Women's Day-related dinner later in the evening. She is set to meet President Jacob Zuma in Durban on Saturday. South Africa is the third country on her seven-leg African tour after visiting Kenya and Somalia. Addressing a press briefing at the Presidential Guest House, the two admitted that relations between South Africa and the US have not been as strong in the recent past but have pledged to work harder to change that. "There has been indeed a lack of co-ordination in our relations and we need to change that," Minister Nkoana Mashabane said. However, it was Zimbabwe that dominated the press conference. Journalists were interested to know how Secretary Rodham-Clinton's visit to South Africa would help find solutions to the unstable political situation of its neighbouring country. "South Africa is very aware of the challenges posed by the political situation in Zimbabwe, the country has more than three million refugees from Zimbabwe...and the minister and I have talked about ways to create a better outcome for the people of Zimbabwe," said Ms Rodham-Clinton. "We as you know are attempting to target the leadership of Zimbabwe with the sanctions we think that might influence their behaviour," she said. She said US President Barack Obama had committed, during a recent visit by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, that the US would provide more help on education, health and all the basic necessities Zimbabweans need. Minister Nkoana Mashabane said, for its part, South Africa would continue to work with the people of Zimbabwe to press for the power sharing agreement signed by political leaders last year. "We want them to fast -track the actual implementation of the agreement," said Ms Nkoana Mashabane. She added that Mr Tsvangirai had been given an assurance that South Africa would help to resolve what ever deadlocks there maybe in the process in a meeting with President Jacob Zuma a week ago. Ms Rodham-Clinton also told reporters that the US will be working closer with the South African government in a renewed fight against the scourge of HIV and AIDS in the country and the continent. "We stand ready to work with the South African government in what ever way is effective on this matter and I will be discussing that with the health minister later (Friday)," she said. On the deteriorating political situation in Somalia, both Secretary Rodham-Clinton and Minister Nkoana Mashabane said their respective governments will work hard to support the transitional federal government in that country. Secretary Rodham-Clinton said she had met with on Thursday President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed to see how the US can help bring about stability in the country. Somalia is standing at a particular crossroads as the formation of a new government has so far not helped to heal the wounds caused by decades of civil wars. The fragile government has control of just a few blocks in the capital city of Mogadishu. - BuaNews |
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