Our Embassy is deeply committed to the continuing development of a sound co-operation between France and South Africa in the fields of palaeontology and palaeoanthropology. There are several reasons for this. Subsidising the discovery of the past, our origins and our ancestors has been a well-established, almost centennial tradition of our department ever since we began archaeological missions to the Middle East. This tradition continues today and is fitting for a country where cultural research is a vital part of its transition to democracy.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs devotes around one third of its budget to ‘cultural cooperation’, which is considered an important component of our diplomacy. By supporting our quest for the past through various missions throughout Africa, France reinforces her well-known commitment to the promotion of cultural diversity throughout the world and her respect for diversified forms of human fulfilment.

In this regard, we share President Thabo Mbeki's homage to the work of Phillip Tobias and Francis Thackeray at the inauguration of the Freedom Park Museum in Pretoria. Here he stressed how important for the new South Africa the work of these two eminent scholars and their colleagues are, because when investigating the past three million years of human evolution, they see beyond the divisions of race, colour and creed and stress instead the unifying aspects of our common ancestry. We share that belief and this homage to Professor Tobias, our guest of honour today.

Another reason for our sustained efforts in this field lies in the already established research cooperation between France and South Africa, as the number of speakers in this seminar attests. Public funds to the tune of €1 500 000 per year are made available for the development of scientific cooperation between our two countries. We wish to maintain and if possible increase this level, particularly through support for the training of students, researchers or technical agents from historically disadvantaged communities. This cooperation is based on both a common respect for and interest in the exceptionally rich heritage of our two countries.