1 Department of Foreign Affairs Strategic Plan March 2004 ____________________________ Presentation to the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on International

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Department of Foreign Affairs

Strategic PlanMarch 2004

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Presentation to the parliamentaryAd Hoc Committee on International Affairs

Wednesday - 26 May 2004

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Strategic Plan - March 2004

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Structure of Strategic Plan______________________

Part 1 : pages 6-41• Includes foreign policy objectives; strategic objectives; priorities for the

Ministry and SA’s regional and multilateral interests

Part 2 : pages 42 - 72• Presents the Department’s key performance areas

Part 3 : pages 73 - 75• Outlines the Department’s Asset Management Plan

Part 4 : pages 76 - 85• Outlines the Information and Communications Technology Plan

Part 5 : pages 86 - 87• Includes the Human Resources Plan and the organisational structure


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• Global Governance: political issues• Global Governance: socio-economic issues• Global Governance: security issues


Focus of Strategic Plan : Political Dimensions_____________________________________

• Consolidation of the African Agenda• South-South co-operation• Political and economic relations

Structure of Presentation____________________

Key performance areas:medium-term priorities and objectives

• Global governance: political, socio- economic and security issues• Consolidation of the African Agenda

South Africa’s regional/multilateral interests with respect to South-South co-operation, North-South dialogue, and political and economic relations

• Africa• Middle East/Asia-Australasia• Americas• Europe

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Global Governance : Political_______________________________________

UN Reform -> Objectives:• Promote multilateralism and respect for international law to achieve global political

and economic stability and security• Develop/promote national positions on UN reform informed by UN Secretary-

General’s Panel of Eminent Persons• Reinforce rules-based multilateral approaches to international peace/security• Advance SA’s national positions multilaterally and through bilateral interactions

Implementation of Global Agreements -> Objectives:• WCAR Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA)

– Adequate funding for National Forum against Racism• Ten-year progress review of Beijing Platform of Action

– Ensure robust national review of Beijing


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Global Governance : Economic__________________________

Objectives:

• Democratisation of Bretton Woods institutions

• Increase market access through WTO

• Implementation of Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI)

• Attainment of MDGs

• Kyoto Protocol (KP) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in SA

• Strengthen policy/programme coherence/effectiveness of SA’s activities in response to action plans/development goals of major UN conferences/summits


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Global Governance : Economic__________________________

Objective: Democratisation of Bretton Woods institutions

Critical Issues:• Better representation of developing countries in institutions to improve governance• Stabilising global financial system to protect countries against financial shocks

Objective: Increase market access through WTO

Critical Issues:• Doha Round of negotiations to adequately address developing countries’ needs• Possible extension of Doha Round deadline• Manage processes within other negotiating forums (Cairns Group, Africa, G20)


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Global Governance : Economic_________________________

Objective: Implementation of Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI)

Critical Issues:• Review by CSD12 on MDGs & JPOI on water, sanitation, human settlements, poverty

eradication• Political commitment in Africa to practical implementation of Johannesburg outcomes

Objective: Attainment of MDGs

Critical Issues:• Present rates of progress in Africa present difficulties• Adequate resources• MDGs linked to developing countries’ market opportunities for exports, debt relief,

capital flows, increased ODA


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Global Governance : Economic_________________________

Objective: Promote the Kyoto Protocol (KP) and operationalise CDM projects in SA

Critical Issues:• Russia still to ratify KP• USA still to join KP

Objective: Strengthen policy/programme coherence/effectiveness of SA’s activities in response to action plans/development goals of major UN conferences/ summits

Critical Issues:• Integrated and co-ordinated response to conference/summit outcomes• Monitoring deadlines/advice on reporting obligations• Dissemination of information• Consultation to advocate common positions at multilateral centres• Co-ordination to develop coherent responses to reviews/appraisals of major UN

conferences


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Global Governance : Security

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Objective: Continued international debate on combating terrorism/SA’s compliance with related UNSC resolutions

Critical Issues:• Advance with like-minded countries view to address international terrorism within UN

and other multilateral institutions• International campaign against terrorism should not push eradication of poverty/

underdevelopment off international agenda• Fight against terrorism cannot provide justification for gross violation of human rights

Objective: Implementation of SA policies/national interests in disarmament/ non-

proliferation, WMD, small arms, light/conventional weapons

Critical Issues:• Proliferation of conventional weapons, especially in context of Africa’s conflicts• WMD in context of terrorism and UNSC action in this regard• Nuclear weapons in international security/lack of progress on nuclear disarmament• Continued reinforcement of international regimes on WMD and conventional weapons


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Global Governance : Security_______________________

Objective: Organised crime

Critical Issues:• Participating in and working with relevant national and international commissions

and committees

Objective: Human trafficking

Critical Issues:• Implementation of SA’s treaty obligations and participation in international crime

forums


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South-South Cooperation_____________________

Objectives:• South-South co-operation/North-South relations• Agenda of the South• Develop/promote IBSA and its programmes

Critical Issues:• Relations with Pacific Rim/Caribbean on ACP/Commonwealth issues• Economic relations with South/Central America, Indian Ocean Rim, Central Europe

Political and Economic Relations__________________________

Objective:• Expand tourism promotion• New markets, especially Central and Eastern Europe• Bid for Square Kilometre Array• 10-Year of Freedom celebrations• 2010 Soccer World Cup


Documents

1 Department of Foreign Affairs Strategic Plan March 2004 ____________________________ Presentation to the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on International