Pretoria, July 4, 2006 – (SL Times) – South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad, who is a close ally of President Thabo Mbeki,   gave a press briefing   on Tuesday on South Africa's foreign policy   to journalists at the Union Buildings, which houses the President's office.

Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad re-iterated that the case of Somaliland is special and not a case of secession. Equally highlighted in Deputy   Minister's response on Somaliland was the African Union's high-level Fact-Finding   report and its findings of 2005.

Below is the   response of Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad on Somaliland.

Question Deputy Minister Pahad, what is the South African government's position on the recognition of the government of Somaliland? Will you recognize it? Are you in negotiations with them?

Answer The African Union sent a high-level team to Somaliland to assess the situation. Their report indicated that Somaliland should be treated differently to other situations of cessation. This report is now being discussed by other countries to determine how to proceed on the matter.

It is important to note however that the recognition of Somaliland is one part of a bigger situation with regard to Somalia.

The full briefing is available at web address of the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs:   

http://www.dfa.gov.za/docs/speeches/2006/paha0704.htm