Portfolio Committee on International Relations & Cooperation Programme; IBSA summit preparations

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International Relations

07 July 2009
Chairperson: T Nxesi (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

The Chairperson outlined the need for the Committee to define itself, its role and programme, more clearly. There was a need for broad consultation particularly from old members in order to establish how to operate. Members commented that the Executive had undermined the role of the Committee in the past in that the Committee was merely used to rubber stamp agreements. Broader consultation was essential and this included prior sharing of treaties for approval. Members suggested items which they thought would be relevant for adding to the Committee Programme including Zimbabwe, Sudan and the Western Sahara. They then discussed preparations for the forthcoming IBSA summit in Brazil from 6 -10 October 2009

Meeting report

Committee Programme
The Chairperson said that there was a need for consultation with previous members of the Committee like Mr B Skosana as well as chairpersons in other portfolios who were dealing with international relations. He indicated that he had already spoken to the House Chair for International Relations. Input from them would ascertain whether the agenda was comprehensive enough. There was a need for workshops as the Committee needed clarity about their role.

The Parliamentary Researcher outlined the time frame for the Committee to work in - this included two lots of seven weeks. The committee budget needed to be taken into consideration. The Committee mandate was to map the programme out with these variables in mind.

Mr B Skosana (IFP) requested that there be broader consultation and not just him. He suggested that the consultation should include the House Chair who was working on this before as well as people who were working with the African Renaissance, the African Parliament and thirdly, the Deputy Speaker. He indicated that the Department Budget Speech was an important consideration.

The Chairperson agreed that broader consultation was needed and the Committee needed to look at ways of bringing in people from other portfolios to a workshop.

Mr K Mubu (DA) listed activities in which the South African government was involved such as mediation and funding on the African continent. He felt that these projects should be included in the programme. He listed the Southern Sudan project and the Zimbabwean crisis.

Mr S Ngonyama (Cope) agreed that Zimbabwe was an important issue because if it was not focused on, it would appear that the Committee was lethargic about the matter and this would be wrong as they were accountable to the public. The Committee should pay attention to the conflict in the Sahara and Madagascar. Thirdly the issue of the African Parliament was important for the agenda because the government was committed to this.

Ms T Magama (ANC) said the Committee needed to find a way of incorporating public diplomacy into the programme. Part of the Committee’s mandate was to ensure public participation.

Mr S Mokgalapa (ANC) agreed that public diplomacy was very important and the Committee should find a way of filtering it through. Also there was a shortfall of R150 million in the Department budget and that would be challenge in achieving their objectives.

The Chairperson pointed out that members were not diplomats but representatives of the people.

The Chairperson said all these ideas presented by members would be incorporated into a revised committee programme which would be sent to everybody in time to comment. There was a need for the Committee to have access to documents which were emerging from various forums. Budgetary constraints were in place across the board as R200 000 had been awarded to each parliamentary committee but there was a general feeling that this would not go very far. There was however an appeal at the meeting of the Committee of Chairs for action in providing more funds. Departments needed to be creative. Considering global crises and exchange rates, there was a need to prioritise. Zimbabwe, Sudan and the Western Sahara should top the agenda. He was surprised that nobody had raised the African Unity issue as South Africa was a leading player. He felt strongly about monitoring international agreements as the Committee had no knowledge of these agreements. He called for a workshop on all the agreements which existed.

Mr S Ngonyama (Cope) said that there were different views about African unity in African countries; however the differing views in South Africa also needed to be taken into consideration. Treaties were a problem because the public needed to be involved. MPs had a responsibility to relay information to their constituents. MPs need to engage with their Zimbabwean compatriots because this would lead to lasting peace. There were calls for an economic blockade to be imposed in Swaziland. The President in conjunction with the Minister should appoint an envoy to engage with the Swazi monarchy on issues of abuse and human rights violations.

The Chairperson replied that Zimbabwe and Swaziland were key issues and the Committee could not close their eyes to atrocities committed in these countries. There was a need to consult with old members because information from fact-finding missions was needed. There was a notion that foreign affairs should be mass driven and not only conducted by the President and Ministers. Consultation should go down to grassroot level and civil rights organisations from both countries should engage with each other.

Mr S Ngonyama (Cope) said he could not respond as he did not have knowledge on this and this was the gap between the Committee and Foreign Affairs. He recommended that the Deputy Chairperson should offer advice.

Ms F Hajaij (ANC) said that the Portfolio Committee needed a specific role when it came to oversight and accountability. For the last 15 years there had been conflict between the Committee and the Executive and it was not going to be easy. Policy should not just emanate from the Executive, plus the Committee should be informed about what was in the pipeline. In the past the Executive merely instructed the Committee on ratifications and that it was paramount to blackmail. There was a greater need for co-operation and that documents and agreements should be sent to the Committee first before they were adopted. Events in Africa like the Zimbabwe crisis were referred to SADC parliament and were debated openly. Usually constructive steps were put in place by SADC. Swaziland was a complex problem because of its constitution and the Committee will find it difficult to deal with. However discussions in the Committee could be relayed to organisations such as the Pan African Parliament for consideration. South Africa was a leading nation in the region and had important role to play particularly with regard to peace and economic growth in the region. 

Mr K Mubu commented that the previous Committee had been undermined because it was simply used to rubber stamp. He suggested that the Chair put all treaties on hold until the Committee was fully informed and that a moratorium needed to be imposed until such time that procedures were carried out correctly. Dialogue with MPs in Zimbabwe was fundamental.

The Chairperson relied that his Committee would no longer engage in rubber stamping. There was a need to discuss things with the Minister on how to go forward.

Mr J Van der Merve (IFP) said there were so many issues that could be added to the programme; however the priority for the Committee would be to establish its role. This would entail a workshop and the purpose would be to outline what the responsibilities and expectations were of the Committee. This workshop would  discuss where the Committee fitted in with other departments who were dealing with foreign affairs.

Mr S Ngonyama (Cope) agreed and said that it was a wonderful point. The workshop should also work around the approach of the Committee on the continent. Would it act like the ‘big brother’ when dealing with issues in other countries? Therefore the Committee must define itself first.

The Chairperson said that the Committee needed to define itself and their relationship with other departments and how they communicated with each other. A two day workshop was necessary for this. A one day summit to discuss Zimbabwe and Swaziland was needed.

Mr Mubu said there were other interest groups that could also give valuable input to guide the Committee like the Office of Tibet and interest groups such as Palestinian groups.

The Chairperson replied that when dealing with foreign policy in general; experts would be called in. However specific events would warrant input from interest groups. They needed to be circumspect about whom to invite.

Mr Skosana said that there was a need for balance when it came to representation from interest groups and that both sides should be given an opportunity to express themselves. However members should keep in mind that they were dealing with governments and that interest groups should not be the focus.

Ms B Gxowa (ANC) warned that the Committee must be careful. Background checks of such interest groups and knowledge of their operations was needed and their agenda needed to be sent to the Committee before they made their presentation.

India, Brazil, South Africa tripartite
The Chairperson provided a briefing to a forum on IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa tripartite) which was co-ordinated by the Department of Trade and Industry. The topic was the preparations for the forthcoming IBSA summit in Brazil from 6 -10 October 2009. A wide variety of focus groups were represented but no labour group. The parliamentary group was stopped because it was made up of staff members of Parliament. The Committee’s task was to appoint a new group. The ambassador would revise the structuring of groups as labour also needed to be accommodated. The Committee needed to pay attention to the focus groups and the selection would revolve around what was on the agenda.

Mr Skosana agreed that the Committee needed to pay attention to the focus groups and the selection would revolve around what was on the agenda. He added that academia should also be represented.

Meeting adjourned

Present

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