REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY
HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA,
ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL TALKS
BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
AND THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
24 OCTOBER 2007 WINDHOEK

*Check Against Delivery

Your Excellency, Comrade Engineer José Eduardo dos Santos;
Honourable Ministers of the Republic of Angola and Namibia;
Distinguished Delegates to the Official Talks
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of Namibia, and indeed on my own behalf, I am delighted to once again welcome you and your entire delegation to our country.

Your visit to Namibia brings to mind several high level visits that have been taking place between our two countries. Hence, I believe these Official Talks today will provide us with yet another opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest in order to further strengthen the excellent bilateral relations and bonds of friendship existing between our two countries and peoples.

We are pleased with the state of the excellent bilateral relations between our two countries which are characterised by growing co-operation, mutual respect and solidarity. This is the spirit in which we are welcoming Your Excellency and your entire delegation to Namibia.

Our two Governments continue to work together in many areas of cooperation. Recently, the 14th Meeting of the Angola-Namibia Joint Commission on Defence and Security took place at Ondjiva from 2 to 5 October, 2007. The Commission discussed matters of mutual concern in the areas of safety and security, free movement of people across the common border, particularly for the border residents and prevention of crime. I would like to commend your Government as well as the Angolan Parliament which recently ratified the Protocol on Defence co-operation between our two countries.

We also commend your Government for the decision to abolish visa requirements for Namibians travelling to Angola. This is indeed a demonstration of the deepening levels of co-operation between our two countries. We hope it will translate into increased benefits for our two peoples, including enhanced trade and commercial activities, as well as people-to-people interactions.
The growing ties among our regional and provincial authorities provide a welcome platform for increased co-operation between our two countries. In recent months, Angolan Provincial Governors and Namibian Regional Governors exchanged reciprocal visits in order to share views on matters of mutual concern. These close relations will undoubtedly contribute to the improvement of people-to-people contacts and harmonious relations.

Your Excellency,

I would like to inform you that the extension of our rail network to the Angolan border is progressing well. Construction of the rail line is approaching the Oshikango-Santa Clara Border post. It is expected to be fully operational by early 2010. We believe that connecting Angola and Namibia by railway will enhance the free movement of people and goods between our two countries. The Government of Angola may wish to consider linking your railway network to Namibia’s railway network at Oshikango via Santa Clara. This will enhance further regional economic integration in line with the various protocols signed under the auspices of our regional organisation, SADC.

In the same vein, I would like to propose that our two Governments consider connecting our two countries via a road network to be constructed from Tsumeb through Tsintsabis and Katwitwi border post to Menonge in the Kwando Kubango province of Angola.

The Namibian Government attaches great importance to the ongoing collaboration with the Government of Angola on infrastructure development projects such as the Calueque-Oshakati-Oshikango and Ondjiva Water Pipe project. We welcome the establishment of the Joint Technical Commission for the Kunene River, the Xangongo-Ondjiva Water Supply project and the rehabilitation of the Gove dam.

Your Excellency,

I am impressed by the thoroughness of preparations that preceded this State Visit. This is demonstrated by the unprecedented number of agreements that will be singed today, amounting to eleven in total.

The agreements cover a wide range of sectors of Government-to-Government co-operation. These include co-operation Agreements on General Education:

Co-operation Agreement on Higher Education and Training of Professionals;
Co-operation Agreement on Marine, Fisheries and Aquaculture;
Technical Co-operation Agreement in the Field of Health along the Common Border areas;
Co-operation in the Field of Science, Technology and Innovation;
Treaty on Extradition;
Protocol on Culture,
Treaty of Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters; and
Co-operation Agreement on Public Security, Law and Order, to mention only some.

In the first instance, the signing of these agreements is indicative of the commonality of views that we share in terms of socio-economic development in our countries. It also reflects the challenges that our people and Governments face towards the realization of development objectives of addressing poverty, under-development, hunger and disease.

At the same time, however, these agreements demonstrate the hard-work that we are jointly engaged in to find solutions to many development challenges and to bring about administrative efficiencies in the way public services are delivered.

Your Excellency,

Another important area for co-operation is the tourism industry. In the context of our two countries, we are satisfied with the establishment of the Trans-Frontier Conservation Area covering the Skeleton Coast National Park on the Namibian side and the Iona National Park on the Angolan side. This effort will lead to the promotion of tourism which will benefit both our countries. It also follows international and regional trends of establishing Trans National Parks and tourism access facilities.

Last week, I had the honour to join our counterparts from Botswana and South Africa for official opening of the Mata-Mata Tourism access facility at the common borders joining our three countries. The private sector should be encouraged to continue playing their part as the engine for economic growth. In this regard, appropriate measures should be adopted and conducive environment created to facilitate this role.

One way of assisting the private sector in our two countries is by establishing the Windhoek-Luanda Corridor to enhance trade and commerce. Next week Namibia will host an International Investors Conference where specific projects will be presented to investors from the region and elsewhere with the view to source financing. Most of these projects will have a positive impact on economic growth in the SADC Region. It is my hope that the Republic of Angola will be well represented at the Conference.

Our region is facing a power supply deficit that has the potential to disrupt economic activities and livelihoods of our people. In this regard, the Angola-Namibia Joint Technical Commission should be encouraged to finalise the Terms of Reference for the Environment Impact Assessment to be conducted with the view to construct the Baynes Hydro-Power Project as soon as possible. This will help us to cushion the impact of power shortage in our region. Namibia is also pursuing the construction of a Gas-to-Power station to exploit the Kudu Gas Field.

Indeed, we have an extensive agenda covering many issues of mutual concern that will be discussed during this State Visit. We whole-heartedly welcome the auspicious opportunity presented by Your Excellency’s presence in Namibia. We trust that our discussions on various matters will bear fruits, both in the short and long terms.

While wishing Your Excellency an enjoyable stay in our country, I also wish to take this opportunity to wish all the delegates to the Official Talks fruitful deliberations.

I thank you.