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Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad to Participate
in Congressional Hearing on NEPAD
On the invitation of the Chairman of the House Committee
on International Affairs the Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Aziz Pahad will leave for Washington on Monday,
16 September to testify at a Hearing of the Africa Sub-Committee
on NEPAD on Wednesday, 18th September 2002.
The invitation reads: "the sub-committee on Africa
has taken a strong interest in conflict resolution,
transparency and increased trade and investment in Africa,
all of which are critical components of NEPAD. Since
South Africa was a critical partner in the creation
of NEPAD, the sub-committee would like to hear its assessment
of the potential benefits and challenges of NEPAD and
the role African governments would like the USA to play
in the execution of NEPAD."
The hearing will also be addressed by Steven Hayes,
President of the Corporate Council on Africa; Ms V Derrick,
Director: Public Private Partnership of the Academy
for Educational Development; and Mr Akwer of Amnesty
International, USA.
President Mbeki's address to the UN General Assembly,
the Special GA session on NEPAD on Monday, 16th September
2002, the President's address to the Council on Foreign
Relations on Thursday, 12th September 2002, and his
meeting with leading USA government and corporate sectors
has ensured that NEPAD is now firmly on the global agenda.
The congressional hearing is important because the
committee reflects and influences African issues within
the USA foreign policy establishment, the USA Administration,
the USA business Community and NGO's
Deputy Minister Pahad said, "The hearings will
provide yet another opportunity to explain the challenges
facing the African continent and why Africa sees NEPAD
as the African Agenda to form a holistic, integrated
socio-economic programme for the renaissance of Africa.
It is an African agenda to take charge of our own destiny".
For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082
990 4853.
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
16 September 2002
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