MAP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

1. BRIEFING TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON THE TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Presentation by Ambassador Grobler: Acting DDG: Americas and Europe 21 October 2008

2. MAP OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

3. Profile of the Russian Federation • Population 142.7 million • Size 17 075 400 sq Km • Capital Moscow • Major language Russian • Life expectancy 58(M) 72(F) • Monetary unit 1 rouble = 100 kopecks • Main exports Oil and oil products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, weapons and military equipment • Main imports Machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, sugar, semi-finished metal products • GDP US$1.8 trillion • GDP Growth 6.2% • GDP per capita US$9 800

4. Domestic Politics • President Mr. Medvedev • Prime Minister Mr Vladimir Putin • Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sergei Lavrov • Federal state with a Republican form of government • Bi-cameral Federal Assembly which consists of: - the upper chamber, Council of Federation - the lower chamber, State Duma • Has 89 provinces • Presidential elections held 2 March 2008 • Revival of Russia as a major world power • Multilateral co-operation rooted on national interests • Strengthening of influence in Commonwealth Independent States (CIS)

5. Economic Overview • Russia is the most economically developed area of former USSR • Rich in Mineral Resources, Gas, Oil, diamonds, platinum group metals • Economic mainstay – Oil and Gas and Construction boom • Russia supplies 70% of the EU’s energy • Eradication of poverty of rural sector of economy through increase of grants and basic services: electricity, education • WTO aspirations – South Africa supportive of Russia’s ambitions

6. Foreign Relations • Near Abroad Policy: Consolidation of influence in CIS • Strengthening of relations with neighbours in Asia ( China, India, Japan) – • Envisages formalisation of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) to exclusion of SA • A permanent member of the UNSC, - supportive of UN Reform • Member of G8 – supportive of the Africa Action Plan • Relations with Africa- debt forgiveness, peace keeping operations

7. Tensions with former Soviet States : Georgia – 2004 Rose revolution, aspirations to join NATO and the EU, August 2008 military conflict, recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia fully fledged states Ukraine - 2005 Orange revolution, aspirations to join NATO and EU, Gas and oil pipeline disputes, potential territorial disputes Poland and Czech Republic – Installation of US Missile Shields, Military posturing, Economic strife with Poland leading to failure to adopt a New Co-operative Framework between Russia and the EU

8. African Agenda - Russia’s interests in Africa mainly in the Mining and Agriculture sectors • Important African Countries to Russia – SA, Egypt, Angola, Namibia, Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire - Debt Relief and cancellation – linked to mining concessions - Peace-keeping: Russian soldiers and security personnel are involved in UN Peacekeeping operations in Africa (Burundi, Rwanda and Sudan)

9. HISTORY OF RELATIONS • Moral and material support to the liberation struggle since the 1960’s • Increased training of personnel in the aftermath of the 1976 uprising • Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 leading to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and Apartheid government in South Africa • High-level visits - 1998 Deputy President Mbeki - 1999 President Mandela - 2006 President Putin to South Africa - 2007 Prime Minister Fradkov to South Africa - Annual ITEC visits by Minister Dlamini Zuma and Minister Trutnev

10. Bilateral relations with South Africa • Establishment of Diplomatic relations in 1992 • Treaty of Friendship initialled by Presidents Mandela and Yeltsin in 1999 • Treaty of Friendship and Partnership signed by Presidents Mbeki and Putin in 2006 • Treaty Ratified by Russia in December 2007 • Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) -established in 2001 -key sectors: Trade, investment and banking Minerals and energy Transport, aviation and maritime Water and Forestry Social sector- Health and Education Science and Technology Business Council • Trade statistics 2008 - Exports from SA to Russia: US$ 237,831million - Imports from Russia to SA: US$ 2,283,517 million

11. International Agenda: Common positions - Iran: Non-proliferation and the Peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy – - UN reform - Russia is supportive of SA’s stand on the need for comprehensive reform of the UN to reflect current realities - Peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East

12. Treaty of Friendship and Partnership • The Treaty envisages strategic partnership between South Africa and Russia • Envisages regular high level interaction on bilateral and multilateral issues • Enhanced collaboration to ensure a just and equitable international system based on the UN Charter • Commitment to multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - 1968 Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty - 1972 Convention on Prohibition, Production and Stockpiling of Biological Weapons - 1993 Convention on Prohibition of the Use of Chemical Weapons

13. Co-operation through Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Co-operation (ITEC): - Science and Technology - Minerals and Energy - Water and Forestry - Education - Health - Transport - Agriculture - Arts and Culture • Separate agreements are envisaged to implement the Treaty where existing Agreements are not covered (Annexure B : Signed Agreements) • Treaty may be amended by mutual consent of parties • Treaty to be ratified and enter into force upon the dates of exchange of instruments of ratification

14. Thank you!