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Statement by H.E. Mr. Zwelethu Mnisi Ambassador and Permanent Representative During the Signing Ceremony of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Kingdom of Swaziland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Monday, 30 March 2015
Presenter: 
H.E. Mr. Zwelethu Mnisi
Location: 
New York

Statement by

H.E. Mr. Zwelethu Mnisi

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

During the Signing Ceremony of the

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the

Kingdom of Swaziland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 

30 March 2015

New York

 

Your Excellency, Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

On behalf of His Majesty, King Mswati III, the Ingwenyama, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the Government and People of the Kingdom of Swaziland, I have the singular honour, to be able to formalize, the establishment of diplomatic relations, between the Kingdom of Swaziland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the same vein, permit me to convey, a message of goodwill, to His Majesty King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the Saudi Royal family and the Government and People of Saudi Arabia.

In spite of the distance, between our two Countries, we have a lot of common interests. In a world that is becoming increasingly ever-dependant, the Kingdom of Swaziland, welcomes the opportunity to formalize, what has always been a natural alliance. Our two Countries have many similarities including a shared love and respect, for the preservation of our respective heritage and cultures.

Your Excellency,

We believe that, there are many advantages, to the concretization, of relations between our states. Within the multilateral sphere, there are many opportunities, within which areas of cooperation, can be found. We have shared membership, in many organizations, such as the United Nations, and it’s various Subsidiary Bodies, common membership in the Group of 77 (+ China), the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency amongst others. The diversity, in the nature of these various organizations, shows just how interdependent, our two Countries are. Interestingly, we also have a shared membership, of the African Development Bank, though the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is not on African soil. This, is indicative, of the intentions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, towards the African continent in general. We welcome these positive signs. 

On a bilateral level, the Kingdom of Swaziland, has embarked on an aggressive initiative, to create investor friendly conditions. As part of this, Swaziland has recently completed an international class airport, that has expanded our capacity to absorb, increased flows of air traffic, both in terms of passenger and freight. There are various supplementary initiatives, that are being put in place, to create mutual opportunity for Swaziland, as well as potential partners, to forge entry points, into new markets. Already, under construction, is an oil storage facility, that will allow for the importation of oil by the local markets. Swaziland, as a member of the Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, boasts a significant, and sizeable market in the sub-region. In addition to this, Swaziland, also has, market access to other markets that would be accessible to investors, through an Economic Partnership Agreement, with the European Union, and access to Mercosour.

With these brief remarks, Your Excellency, permit me, once more, on behalf of their Majesties and the Swazi Nation, to express our gratitude, on this auspicious occasion.

Thank you.