PREAMBLE The Governments of The The The The The The The The The The The The Republic of Angola Republic of Botswana Kingdom of Lesotho Republic of Malawi Republic of Mauritius Republic of Mozambique Republic of Namibia Republic of South Africa Kingdom of Swaziland United Republic of Tanzania Republic of Zambia Republic of Zimbabwe ENJOINED as the Member States of the Southern African Development Community hereinafter referred to as "the SADC"; MINDFUL of the principles of international law which govern their relations as sovereign states; IN PURSUANCE of Articles 22 and 23 of the SADC Treaty which provides for Member States to conclude a Protocol to expand and deepen their co-operation in the areas of infrastructure and services; MINDFUL of the Protocols which Member States have concluded or will conclude in other sectors, in particular the trade and industry sector; DETERMINED to establish viable and sustainable transport, communications and meteorology systems, RECOGNISING THAT transport, communications and meteorology functions have a regional and global character and are a prerequisite for the promotion of economic growth and development and the improvement of the quality of life and social interaction of all their citizens within the Region, continentally and internationally; the rules of the global multilateral trading system as embodied in the relevant instruments of the World Trade Organisation and in particular, the General Agreement on Trade in Services, provide a framework for their sectoral and sub-sectoral co-operation; they are all members of the African Economic Community and bound to implement this Protocol in accordance with the principles of that organisation; their rights and obligations under regional and international agreements must be built collectively to promote convergence and compatibility with regional and global trends, while a unified approach is adopted to issues of common interest;