Programme Director
Honourable Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Members of the Federation Council;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening.
INTRODUCTION
• It is a singular honour for me and the delegation of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa to join you in this beautiful city of Moscow.
• We are deeply grateful for the warm hospitality extended to us and for the gracious invitation of my counterpart and esteemed colleague, Honourable Valentina Matvienko.
• Allow me to convey the greetings and best wishes of the people and Parliament of South Africa to the people and Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
• We are pleased to be here at a time when our two nations continue to strengthen a partnership founded on history, solidarity, mutual respect and a shared commitment to a more just and equitable world.
HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA-RUSSIA RELATIONS
• Programme Director, the story of relations between South Africa and Russia is not merely one of diplomacy; it is a story of solidarity forged during some of the most difficult chapters of our nation's history.
• The people of South Africa will never forget the support extended by the former Soviet Union to those who struggled for the liberation of our country.
• Historical ties between our people stretch back many decades, including the presence in Moscow of Comrade Albert Nzula, the first Black Secretary of the Communist Party of South Africa, who lived and worked here during the early years of the twentieth century.
• As the struggle against apartheid intensified, the Soviet Union became one of the most steadfast supporters of South Africa's liberation movement.
• It provided political support, education, financial assistance and military training to many South Africans who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of freedom, democracy and human dignity. Leaders of our liberation movement, including Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela and others, benefited from this solidarity at decisive moments in our history.
• These historical bonds were built on principles rather than convenience. They were grounded in a shared belief that all people are entitled to freedom, justice and self-determination. It is therefore unsurprising that these historical connections continue to provide a firm foundation for the friendship between our countries today.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
• Since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Russian Federation in 1992, our partnership has grown steadily in scope and depth.
• Over the years, our cooperation has found expression in political dialogue, economic engagement, social cooperation, educational exchanges, security cooperation and multilateral collaboration.
• We have worked together in numerous international forums and have consistently sought areas of common interest that advance the well-being of our respective peoples.
• At the parliamentary level, we have been equally committed to nurturing these ties.
• The Memorandum of Understanding between our legislatures provides an important framework for engagement.
• Reciprocal visits, exchanges of delegations and cooperation on parliamentary matters have enriched our mutual understanding and strengthened institutional relations between our Parliaments.
• These included the participation by the South African parliamentary delegation in the Observer Mission for the election of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in September 2021.
• Our presence here today reaffirms a shared commitment to ensuring that parliamentary diplomacy remains a powerful instrument for fostering trust, dialogue and cooperation between nations.
FOCUS ON PEOPLE
• As South Africa, we firmly believe that international relations must ultimately serve people.
• The purpose of diplomacy, governance and international cooperation must be to improve human lives and expand human opportunity.
• Guided by our Constitution, South Africa strives for a world in which every person can live with dignity, security and hope.
• We aspire to a global order where all nations, regardless of their size or level of development, have an equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit from human progress.
• Our vision is of a world free from poverty, hunger, conflict, exclusion and discrimination; a world in which economic opportunities are more equitably shared and where young people, women and vulnerable communities are empowered to realise their full potential.
• For South Africa, people-centred development is not merely a policy preference; it is a constitutional imperative.
• Our ongoing efforts to address poverty, unemployment and inequality are driven by the belief that the true measure of progress is the extent to which it improves the lives of ordinary people.
• This commitment naturally informs the work of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.
• Parliament exists to represent the people, to oversee government, to make laws that advance the national interest, and to provide a platform through which citizens can shape the decisions that affect their lives.
• Through public participation, oversight, lawmaking and international engagement, our Parliament serves as an essential bridge between the aspirations of the people and the actions of the state.
• Through people-to-people exchanges and parliamentary cooperation, we continue to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the bonds between our societies.
• Importantly, cooperation between our parliaments provides a valuable opportunity for exchanging experiences on governance, legislation, public participation and development.
• Such engagement strengthens our institutions and contributes to our common objective of ensuring that government decisions remain connected to the needs and aspirations of our people.
OUR PARLIAMENT’S APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• Beyond our borders, our Parliament continues to strengthen its contribution to international dialogue, multilateral cooperation and the advancement of democratic governance.
• We remain committed to building strategic partnerships based on mutual respect, solidarity and shared interests.
• We also seek to promote a global system that is more representative, inclusive and responsive to the needs of developing countries and the Global South.
• It is in this context that our partnership with Russia assumes particular significance.
• Russia occupies an important place in contemporary international affairs.
• Its contributions to global industry, science, technology, energy, security and geopolitical stability are widely recognised.
• As members of BRICS and partners in various international platforms, our countries have worked together to promote cooperation among developing nations and to encourage greater inclusivity in global governance.
CONFRONTING GLOBAL CHALLENGES
• Programme Director, the challenges confronting humanity today require cooperation rather than division, dialogue rather than isolation, and partnership rather than confrontation.
• As parliamentarians, we have a special responsibility to promote peace, understanding and mutual respect among nations.
• We must champion a rules-based international environment that is fair, balanced and responsive to the concerns of all peoples.
• We must continue to advocate for development, human dignity, equality and social justice as the cornerstones of international cooperation.
• South Africa remains committed to working with the Russian Federation and with all nations of goodwill in pursuit of these objectives.
IN CONCLUSION
• Let us continue to build on the solid foundation laid by those who came before us.
• Let us strengthen the friendship between our peoples, deepen cooperation between our institutions and work together towards a future characterised by peace, shared prosperity and a just global order that leaves no one behind.
• Finally, allow me once again to express my sincere appreciation to Honourable Valentina Matvienko, the Federation Council and the people of the Russian Federation for your warm welcome and generous hospitality.
• May the friendship between South Africa and Russia continue to grow from strength to strength.
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