Germany and South Africa would support each other in their bid for permanent seats on the UN security council, dpa quoted German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and his counterpart Maite Nkoana- Mashbane as saying today. Westerwelle, who is on a tour of Africa, held talks with Nkoana- Mashbane in Pretoria. Earlier in the day he co-chaired a session of the South Africa-Germany Binational Commission with South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. Support from South Africa for Germany was an important signal in light of planned UN reforms, Westerwelle said. Further yearly government consultations between the two countries were planned. Against expectations, an agreement outlining cooperation in the fields of environment, research, defence and economic affairs, was not signed during the visit. German sources said the South African side had requested further clarification on aspects of the memorandum. German Development Aid Minister Dirk Niebel, who is accompanying Westerwelle, said German aid to South Africa would increase to 112 million euros (148 million dollars) over the next three years. The bulk of the funds would go towards renewable energy and energy efficiency projects as well as efforts to combat AIDS. In an address at the Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg, Westerwelle said this summer's World Cup in South Africa would be a shot in the arm for the whole African continent. Africa was already becoming more attractive for international investors, he said. Around 600 German firms are active in South Africa, employing a workforce of 90,000. Westerwelle kicked off his tour in Tanzania. From South Africa he travels to Djibouti.
