Presidents Mbeki, Kabila sign cooperation pact

South African President Thabo Mbeki ended on Tuesday a two-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signing a series of agreements ranging from health matters to defence.

The agreements also covered economic cooperation; the reciprocal protection and promotion of investment; cooperation in public administration and a protocol on regular diplomatic consultation, according to text of a joint communiqué issued by the South African Department of Foreign Affairs.

According to the text, published on Tuesday by the South African Press Association, experts of the Commission on Defence and Security met to "evaluate the progress made since the signing of the Agreement on Military Cooperation" between the two countries earlier in the year. With regards this cooperation accord, South Africa again committed itself to supporting the formation of a national, structured and integrated Congolese army. Mbeki and host President Joseph Kabila agreed to accelerate implementation of the defence deal.

Mbeki also assured Kabila of South Africa's support for the transitional process in the Congo. This should culminate in democratic elections due in 2005. In this regard, the independent electoral commissions of the two countries assessed Congo's requirements to hold these elections.

"They called on the South African government and the international community to provide a range of technological and logistical assistance to their Congolese counterparts," according to the joint communiqué.

South African and Congolese ministers, in the presence of Mbeki and Kabila, signed the agreement. Mbeki's delegation to the Congo included the ministers of foreign affairs, defence, trade and industry, public service and administration, finance and deputy minister of minerals and energy among other senior government officials.