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Statement on President Mbeki's Attendance
of the International Conference on Financing for Development
President Thabo Mbeki will lead a government delegation
to the United Nations’ International Conference
on Financing for Development, which will be held in
Monterrey, Mexico, from Monday 18 to Friday 22 March
2002.
The Government delegation will include Minister of
Foreign Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister
of Finance Trevor Manuel, the Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism Valli Moosa, Acting Director-General
of Foreign Affairs Abdul Minty as well as senior officials
from other government departments and parastatals departments.
The Financing for Development Conference is generally
regarded as an important event in the global campaign
to eradicate poverty and promote economic development.
It is instructive to note that both the World Bank,
IMF and WTO, representatives of civil society and the
business sector also participate in the conference.
The conference will consider a draft document called
"The Monterrey Consensus" which will serve
as a basis for discussions on all aspects of financing
for development. The document also contains proposals
for a regular follow-up review mechanism, building on
the existing annual dialogue between the United Nations
and the Bretton Woods Institutions , but also including
the World Trade Organisation, global business and civil
society.
In this regard, the Heads of State and Government attending
the Conference will, in a special session consider how
to take the process forward and lend impetus to the
proposals on the table.
The conference has a special significance for South
Africa and for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD). Not only will it provide a good
opportunity for presenting the case for NEPAD, for which
financing is a crucial dimension, but the agenda for
the conference has a considerable overlap and thematic
linkage with the WSSD, which will be held in Johannesburg
later this year. A successful outcome of Conference
will therefore augur well for the WSSD.
Acknowledgement of South Africa’s possible contribution
to the Conference is further highlighted by the fact
that the Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor Manuel was appointed
by the United Nations Secretary General as Special Envoy
for the Conference. This appointment, together with
South Africa’s high level participation, will ensure
that South Africa’s interest, together with that
of the developing world, will be promoted and articulated
at this important event.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
17 March 2002
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