Visiting Kuwaiti Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah signed a defense pact with South Africa on Monday in Pretoria under which the Emirate may buy more defense equipment from South Africa.
"When they get home, they will probably decide what are the defense needs they feel they can satisfy from the South African market," South African Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota told journalists after the signing ceremony in Pretoria.
The South African defense industry has already sold a security fence to Kuwait for its border with Iraq, according to AFP. Lekota said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalized closer military cooperation on training, exercises, and the exchange of expertise, and provided for cooperation in peace-keeping.
"We also include the possibility of cooperation in the exchange of technology," he stated. Sabah, who arrived in Pretoria on Sunday for a five-day visit, said "This is just the beginning of a very important mission for the future."
Officials said Sabah was scheduled to hold discussions with Deputy President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday, and would meet prominent figures in the defense industry later in the week. Lekota said that Sabah's trip came soon after a visit by Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz. The continuing tension between Iraq and Kuwait was likely to be reviewed during Sabah's stay, Lekota indicated.
South Africa felt compelled to play a role that would encourage both sides to resolve the tension by negotiations. "If we are going to do that, we have to talk to both sides," Lekota said.
South Africa felt strongly that a move by Baghdad to release prisoners of war would do much to promote negotiations, he added. "People in prison cannot negotiate. Let us release those in prison and then create an atmosphere that can allow for negotiations." (Albawaba.com)
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