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GRENADA STRENGTHENS TIES WITH SOUTH AFRICA

Grenada and the Republic of South Africa have pledged to build on the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation which exist between the two countries in the years ahead.

President of the Republic, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, said he was pleased to receive Credentials from Grenada’s newly-accredited (non-resident) High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, Her Excellency Ms Ruth Elizabeth Rouse and thanked the Government and people of Grenada for support to South Africa’s struggle for freedom.

President Zuma on Tuesday 12th July 2011 received Credentials from Eight Heads of Mission (Grenada; Belgium; Ethiopia; Republic of Korea; Republic of Iraq; Jamaica; Union of Myanmar; Brazil) beginning with Grenada at 10.00 a.m. in the forenoon. The High Commissioner said she was honoured to be granted the opportunity to represent Grenada in South Africa for the second time and looked forward to an active tour of duty and enhanced cooperation between the two countries.

High Commissioner Rouse was the first Grenadian High Commissioner to be accredited to South Africa in November of 2000, following the establishment of diplomatic relations on 5th March 1998.

The President and the High Commissioner discussed possible areas of cooperation including tourism and culture in particular, as well as the wider relationship between CARICOM and the Southern African Nation and agreed that the time had come for more interaction starting with official and familiarization visits between the two countries and regions.

The High Commissioner echoed the sentiments of CARICOM Foreign Ministers who had recently expressed appreciation for South Africa’s support in promoting the interest of CARICOM in fora in which the Community was not represented. The High Commissioner also said that Grenada and its colleagues within CARICOM were looking forward to engaging at the African Diaspora Summit to be held in South Africa in 2012 and the conclusion of the CARICOM-South Africa Air Services Agreement.

The High Commissioner brought greetings from the Government and people of Grenada and expressed the hope that the President and Prime Minister, respectively, would engage in further fruitful discussions when they meet in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for Perth, Australia October 28 – 30, 2011.

Following the Ceremony, the High Commissioner was received by the Caribbean Directorate at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

 

Pretoria

July 12th 2011

{Full text of Speech attached}

Mr. President,

I have the honour to convey to you, Excellency, and through you to the Government and People of the Republic of South Africa, warmest greetings from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Grenada and from the Government and People of Grenada.

I pledge to build on the strong bonds of friendship which already exist between our two nations, and feel deeply honoured to be granted the opportunity to represent my country for a second time, before this beautiful land of yours.

Your Excellency,

May I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your Presidency and the great strides your country has made both economically and politically over these past few years.

I look forward to the strengthening of the relationship between our two nations particularly in the areas of co-operation in tourism, human resource development, trade and investment, to the immense benefit of our people. We already collaborate within the Commonwealth family where we share a common heritage and purpose.

Your Excellency,

The warmth of the hospitality extended to me since my arrival, is indeed overwhelming, and I wish to record my gratitude and appreciation to all those who have taken such care to make me feel welcome.

Your Excellency,

I wish to once again reiterate my desire to work assiduously towards the strengthening  and consolidating of our bilateral relations, and in conclusion, may I express to your Excellency, and to the Government and people of South Africa, best wishes for the continued peace and prosperity of your beautiful nation.

May God Bless both our Nations.

I now have the honour to present to your Excellency, the Letters of Commission accrediting me as Grenada’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, as well as the Letters of Recall of my Predecessor.

 

I THANK YOU

ENDS

12 July 2011

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