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Status and Information on the Visit of the Deputy President
to the United Arab Emirates NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN
REPLY QUESTION NO: 61 PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION
PAPER NO 1 OF 3 FEBRUARY 2006 DR PWA MULDER (FF+) TO ASK THE MINISTER
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: a. Whether the Office of the Deputy President informed
her Department beforehand about the Deputy President's holiday visit to the United
Arab Emirates in December 2005; if not, why was her Department not notified that
the Deputy President was going to be on holiday in the UAE as a guest of that
country's Emir; if so, when; b. Whether her Department rendered any assistance
to the UAE in respect of the security arrangements for the Deputy President's
visit; if not, why not; if so, what was the extent of such assistance; c.
Whether her Department arranged any appointments or contact visits with persons
in the construction industry in the UAE for the Deputy President during that time;
if so, with whom were these appointments arranged; if not, d. Whether her
Department was informed that during such holiday in the UAE the Deputy President
made contact with construction firms; if not, what is the position in this regard.
N80E REPLY: a. Yes. It should however be clarified that the
Deputy President was not a guest of the Emir b. Yes - It should
be mentioned that neither the Department, Mission or Office of the Presidency
was aware that the Office of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was going to extend
courtesy accommodation to the Deputy President and her delegation until the night
before the Deputy President's arrival in the UAE.
- This offer was
discussed with Ambassador D Moopeloa, who could not turn it down, because of the
healthy relationship that exists between the two countries.
- Any
clarity and/or information regarding the security arrangements should be sought
from the Presidential Protection Unit.
c. No appointments were made
for the Deputy President. However the Mission prepared a programme for the Deputy
President to visit sites of a prototype developmental or infrastructural nature,
both in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
d. Refer to answer c above.
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