Finalisation of programme for next term; Budget for 2002-4; Proposed visits

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International Relations

29 May 2002
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Meeting report

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
29 May 2002
FINALISATION OF PROGRAMME FOR NEXT TERM; BUDGET FOR 2002-2004; PROPOSED VISITS


Chairperson: Mr ZP Jordan (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Proposed Budget for 2002/2003

SUMMARY
The meeting finalised the programme for the year and adopted the budget. The discussion was mainly on how South Africa could assist in the Middle East conflict and work towards peace. The Committee agreed that South Africa should help but it found it difficult to come up with a workable plan to help the Middle East. The Committee could not discuss the DRC at length because it needed some briefing from the Department of Foreign Affairs first. The Committee found it easy to agree on preparing for the World Summit and dealing with the issue of refugees in Africa. No dates were set for the programme but the Committee agreed on the framework.

MINUTES
The Chairperson proposed that the Committee try to meet outside the precincts of Parliament and outside the borders of South Africa to involve more players in matters concerning the Committee. The second item were three topics that were previously suggested for the programme of the Committee.
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World Summit on Sustainable Development
The Chairperson suggested that the Committee should be prepared for the Summit and find ways to participate actively in it. He also suggested that it would be wise for the Committee to join the Land and Environmental Affairs cluster, made up by the Portfolio Committees on Environmental Affairs, and Water Affairs and Forestry. Members of the Committee agreed to the proposals.

Middle East Conflict Between Israel and Palestine
The Chairperson was not sure if it was wise to invite either the Israeli or the Palestinian Ambassadors or both to hear their sides of the story because it would be a repeat of what was already broadcast on the Cable News Network (CNN). He asked Members to comment on how they could assist in helping the Middle East to attain a peaceful settlement.

Mr Ebrahim (ANC) agreed that both Ambassadors needed to be invited together to state their cases. He suggested that there were NGOs that had funded peace-making processes.

Mr Ramgobin (ANC) agreed with the idea of helping in the peace process and suggested that the South African Parliament should try and impress upon the Israeli and Palestinian states to learn from South Africa's transition to democracy. He reiterated that South Africa should "humbly and with respect share our views with them at a common table."

Ms Hajaij (ANC) also agreed with the idea of involving South Africa in the Middle East peace process intervention. She thought it would be wise to include the United States of America in South Africa's efforts because the US was a major international player in the Middle East peace efforts.

Dr Geldenhuys (NNP) suggested that the peace process intervention should involve both the invitation of the Israel and Palestinian Ambassadors to express their opinions and also impressing on politicians in the Middle East that they should prepare their electorate for sacrifices in the peace process. He observed that the people at grassroots level in the Middle East were unaware of the sacrifices that would inevitably be made in the peace process.

Mr Sigwela (ANC) agreed with Dr Geldenhuys (NNP) and indicated that during the Committee's visit to the Middle East both sides were looking to South Africa's transition for guiding answers to their conflict. He added that it was urgent for the world to intervene in the conflict as a gesture of goodwill.

Ms Mahomed (ANC) felt that the proposed meeting would be too emotive if both the Israeli and Palestinian Ambassadors were invited to speak at the same meeting. She suggested that the Committee should find ways to make the process productive.

Mr Seremane viewed all points that were made about the Middle East peace intervention as valid and thought that the way forward was to find a way to consolidate them into a workable process.

Ms Magazi (ANC) reminded the Committee to take into account the financial implications of the Committee's intervention into the Middle East conflict. She suggested that the Committee hold one seminar that would include both Parliament and the two Ambassadors instead of more than one seminar. Her suggestion was motivated by cutting costs of such seminars.

Mr Ramgobin (ANC) advised the Committee not to look at the suggested points as a fragment to choose from but rather as parts of a process. He suggested that the beginning of the process should be a discussion in Parliament.

The Chairperson consolidated the discussion by observing that the agreement was to begin discussion in Parliament and have one meeting with the Ambassadors and then appeal to the Middle East politicians. No date was set.

Peace and Stability in Africa
After the Chairperson opened up the topic for comments, Dr Geldenhuys suggested that the Committee ask the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for a briefing about the problem of instability and refugees in Africa. Ms Mahomed agreed with Dr Geldenhuys and added that the International Red Cross (IRC) should be invited too. Mr. Sigwela agreed with these proposals. Mr Ramgobin (ANC) added that an official of the Department of Home Affairs (DOF) must be present too as either an observer or contributor.

Ms Hajaij added that the invitation of the three institutions: UNHCR, IRC, DOH, should be broadened by the Committee visits to refugees in Gauteng. She felt that it would be helpful to get insight into the everyday lives of refugees if refugees directly related their experience to the Committee. Mr Seremane seconded Ms Hajaij's proposal.

Mr Bekker (IFP) suggested that the Committee should consult with government's of the refugees to determine the extent of the problem and see how South Africa could help. The Chairperson was not in favour of the idea and pointed out that the situation was complex. There were some countries that had attained peace, but the after effects of war, such as poverty, leave people to reside in foreign countries as refugees while their government claim there was nothing wrong.

The Chairperson summarised the discussion, to the effect that the Committee agreed to meet with the representatives of the UNHCR, IRC and DOH in a public hearing. No date was set.

Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Ms Hajaij pointed out that it was difficult of engage in the DRC in the light of the DRC President's refusal to allow South Africa to help in the peace process and the cancellation of peace talks in Lusaka. She felt that the Committee needed more information before they could think of ways to help in the peace process.

Dr Geldenhuys suggested that it would be helpful hear the views of the DRC's Ambassador. He had high regard for the Ambassador. Mr Sigwela and Ms Magazi agreed with Dr Geldenhuys.

Mr Ramgobin suggested that the Committee exercise caution and suspend the visit to the DRC and suggested that the Committee should wait for a briefing from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Proposed Budget For the Financial Year 2002/2003
The total budget is R 380 200 : divided into seven activities and their subtotals. The break down was as follows:
COMMITTEE MEETINGS: R12000
OVERSIGHT: Visits to Regions/Provinces: R210 000
OVERSEAS TRIP: R132 000
CONFERENCES/ SEMINARS: R1200
PUBLIC HEARINGS: R40000
INTERNATIONAL MPs VISITS TO SA: R2000
RESEARCH MATERIAL DOCUMENTATION: NIL (R0.00)

There were two queries about the budget. The first query was from the Chairperson. He noted that catering cost R 400 a day for thirty members yet he once paid less than R100 to host ten visitors. He could not understand the price difference. He suggested that there was an inappropriate price inflation in ordering food in Parliament. The Committee agreed to make an inquiry.

The second query was from Mr Ramgobin (ANC): how were advertising costs spent? The Chairperson explained that public hearings were advertised to the public to attend.

Dr Geldenhuys asked what the last year's total budget was. The Chairperson gave him the value of R270 000.

Dr Geldenhuys moved that the budget be accepted. Mr Ramgobin seconded the motion. The Committee adopted the budget.

Proposed Visits
The Committee proposed and agreed to visit Russia in October and Morocco, Algeria and Saudi Arabia in December). No exact dates were set.
The Chairperson notified the Members that he was not sure if they could make visits to the European Union and the United Nations General Assembly with budget constraints. Mr Ramgobin responded that there was no point discussing something beyond the limits of the budget. The matter was closed

Requests: Indian Ambassador Address & Kingdom of Lesotho Briefing
The Chairperson informed the Committee that the Indian Ambassador would like to address the Committee on 12 June 2002. Mr Ramgobin (ANC) asked if the Pakistan Ambassador could be invited to the same meeting. The Chairperson agreed to Mr Ramgobin's question.

Ms Mahomed suggested that the Ambassadors be invited separately. Mr Sigwale (ANC) objected to the idea. The Committee agreed that they would be invited to speak on the same day.

The Chairperson suggested that there should be a briefing about the Kingdom of Lesotho because the monarchy just had elections.

The meeting was adjourned.

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