Presentation on the G8 to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Foreign Affairs By Ambassador J.M. Matjila DDG: Asia & Middle East 5 March 2008

South Africa & The G8 OVERVIEW –G8 and its Evolution –South Africa’s Engagement with the G8 –Road to Hokkaido (Japan Summit 2008) –G8/G5 Political Dynamics –South Africa’s Positioning

The G8 & its Evolution Informal Grouping of 8 industrialized countries founded in 1975 Membership: France, Japan, Germany, Italy, UK, USA, Canada(1976) and Russia (1998) Primarily to Dialogue on global economic issues as affecting the industrialized world With globalization & interdependence imperatives, focus now includes political issues (peace and security); global issues (climate change) and development (Africa) Strategy based on Outreach Programmes

South Africa’s Engagement with G8 Political Mandate: Cabinet/Lekgotla priority on North- South Dialogue Engagement Fronts: –Africa Outreach to promote the African Agenda; –G5 Outreach to promote development, partnership and an equitable global governance system; –Heiligendamm Process established as Political Dialogue on selected issues

Africa Outreach Programme Origins: Kananaskis (Canada 2002) established African Action Plan (AAP) as G8 undertaking to support NEPAD; African Partnership Forum established as review mechanism (OECD+Africa); but not effective Gleneagles (2005) led to multilateral debt forgiveness to Africa and undertook to double ODA by 2010;

Africa Outreach Programme Challenges in Africa Outreach; -To agree on review of commitments made in Kananaskis and Gleneagles -Need for G8’s integrated response to NEPAD; -Need to address APF institutional set-up currently dominated by OECD

Africa Outreach –Towards Hokkaido Challenge: To agree on a balanced agenda for APF 10 Issues for Africa at 10th APF: -Boosting Economic Growth & Poverty Reduction (focusing on Infrastructure, ICT, Agriculture and Gender mainstreaming); -African Action Plan: Mutual Responsibility and Accountability; -Climate Change

Heiligendamm Dialogue Process Origins: 2007 Summit - Germany High level political dialogue to generate political consensus on Innovation; Investment; Energy and Development (with special regard to Africa) Lasting two years with Interim Report to Hokkaido (2008) and Final Report to Italy (2009) Uses OECD platform to host the Support Unit South Africa co-chairs the Development Pillar with France

Road to Hokkaido – Japan 2008 Japan Summit 7 – 9 July 2008 (Hokkaido) Agenda items: –Macroeconomic Issues –Climate Change –Development (MDGs: Health; Education; Water) and Africa (TICAD IV Outcomes) –Political (North Korea; Afghanistan; Sudan; Iran; Nuclear Non-proliferation; Counter-terrorism; Peace- building)

Summit Proceedings Organized as follows: –7 July: Africa Outreach –8 July: G8 Summit (closed session) –9 July: Extended Outreach (G5 and Australia, Indonesia and South Korea) Summit Preparations as follows; –Ministerial Meetings (Various Subjects) –TICAD IV (6-8 April, 2008) to prepare for Africa Outreach Road to Hokkaido (cont)

G5 – Dynamics G5 not yet formally invited = difficult dynamics Key Issues: –Efforts to avert G5 institutionalization; –Narrow Outreach Agenda (Climate Change); –Marginalizing the Heiligendamm Process Resistance to G5 demands for: –Inclusiveness in G8 (implying agenda setting; participation in Summit proper; influencing outcomes: Calls for G13 (G14) –Form not important: meaningful engagement based equality, partnership and mutual respect are key prerequisites

South Africa’s Positioning Engagement with G8 critical to; –Influence thinking on Development –Generate support for the African Agenda –Contribute to the establishment of and equitable global economic system –Promoting mutual understanding and development of partnerships. Challenge: Pursue a relationship based on partnership, equality and mutual respect

South Africa & the G8 END - THANK YOU