CAPE TOWN, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Parliament on Saturday welcomed the "historic readmission" of Madagascar into the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF).
"This is a welcome relief for us as South Africa, as this move bolsters our efforts to strengthen unity in the region," Parliament Speaker Thandi Modise said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.
A 2009 extraordinary summit of the SADC suspended Madagascar from all community institutions and organs of the SADC following a coup against then President Marc Ravalomanana.
At the plenary meeting of the SADC-PF being held in Swakopmund of Namibia, Madagascar was readmitted into the regional bloc following the passing of a motion put forward by Speaker of the Seychelles National Assembly, Nicholas Prea.
The meeting decided to readmit Madagascar to SADC-PF because the country has returned to constitutional order.
"Madagascar will remain our important strategic partner as we have cordial bilateral relations with the people of the island," said Modise.
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Madagascar were established in 1994 and the two countries have signed a number of bilateral agreements.
