SA joins world in remembering end of World War II
10 May 2015

Pretoria -South Africa joined the world on Saturday in commemorating 70

years since the end of the 2nd World War in 1945 and the defeat of

fascism.
 President Jacob Zuma joined other Heads of State and Government in

Moscow, Russia to celebrate the Great Patriotic War, which commemorates

the defeat of Nazi Germany and marked the end of World War II in 1945.

President Zuma arrived in Moscow on Friday ahead of the celebrations.
The President said South Africa contributed to World War II.  
"This is an important occasion as it marks a significant period in the

history of the world, the defeat of fascism and Nazism.
“It is 70 years since the end of the war and 70 years since the formation

of the United Nations. Today we recall the promise that had been made to

the oppressed African majority during the war by the then South African

authorities, that the post-world war order would include self-

determination for the oppressed in South Africa.
“It was not to be. It took a few more decades to achieve our freedom and

we are delighted that we in the end triumphed against the evil that was

apartheid and colonialism," said President Zuma.
South Africa is also celebrating the historic achievement of having

produced a landmark bill of rights during the war, which pre-dated the

United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the form of the

African Claims document.
The African Claims document, which is regarded as the country's own

version of the Atlantic Charter of the victorious nations, was drawn up

after due deliberations by a special committee of the African National

Congress (ANC).
It was adopted by the annual conference of the ANC in Bloemfontein, on the

16th of December, 1943.
President Zuma said South Africa today also salutes the men and women who

drew up the African Claims document. They laid the foundation for the

Freedom Charter and also the country's progressive Constitution.
"With the celebration of 70 years since the end of the war and 70 years

since the formation of the UN, the spotlight falls on the shape of the

world order currently, especially the exclusion of Africa from the

permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
“The time has come therefore, for the world to seriously reflect on this

exclusion of Africa yet again, 70 years on, and seriously discuss the

question of the meaningful reform of the UN Security Council, as we

commemorate the contribution of Africa to the war against fascism," he

said.
He further said South Africa would continue working for a better Africa

and a better world in memory of all our people who contributed to the war

against fascism and those who fought relentlessly in the struggle against

apartheid colonialism in the country.-SAnews.gov.za



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SA and Russia advance bilateral relations   
10 May 2015

Pretoria - South Africa and Russia have once again agreed to sustain the

momentum of their bilateral relationship.
This follows a successful bilateral discussions between President Jacob

Zuma and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russian which has

served to take forward the strong bilateral cooperation between the two

countries. President Zuma is in Russia on a working visit to attend the

Jubilee Celebrations on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Great

Patriotic War (WW II).
President Zuma congratulated President Putin on the moving celebrations of

the 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War which heralded victory

against Nazi Germany and the end of World War 2 in 1945. South Africa and

Russia have strong cooperation in the political, economic, social, defence

and security fields.
The legal instruments and mechanisms that affirm the strategic

relationship between the two countries include the Protocol on Political

Consultations signed in 1994, the Joint Committee on Scientific and

Technological Cooperation signed in 1995, Declaration of Principles on

Friendly Relations and Partnership signed in 1999, the Intergovernmental

Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) signed in 1999. There

are also the Joint Inter-governmental Commission on Military-Technical

Cooperation established in 2002, the Treaty of Friendship and Partnership

signed in 2006 and the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the

Republic of South Africa and the Russian Federation signed in March 2013.
The two leaders supported by their delegations held wide ranging talks

which have included an assessment of bilateral cooperation, the status and

implementation of ITEC Agreements and preparations for the 13th ITEC

Session to be hosted by the Russian Federation during the latter part of

2015. They also discussed preparations for the 7th BRICS Summit scheduled

to be hosted by Russia from 08 to 09 July 2015. The leaders agreed on the

need to intensify cooperation in various areas further including trade and

to explore opportunities further in the areas of mining, energy and

agriculture amongst others.
President Zuma congratulated the Russian Federation as the first BRICS

partner to deposit its instrument for the ratification of the Agreement on

the New Development Bank on 20 April 2015.
South Africa is making good progress through its governance structures to

ratify both the Agreement on the New Development Bank and Treaty on the

Establishment of a Contingent Reserve Arrangement.  In addition, South

Africa is also making steady progress towards establishing the New

Development Bank Africa Regional Centre concurrently with the

establishment of the New Development Bank in Shanghai in China, as was

directed at the Fortaleza Summit in Brazil.
President Zuma also extended good wishes to President Putin for the BRICS

Summit in July. -SAnews.gov.za