Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to Pay Official Visit to Ghana, Senegal, Algeria and Chad, Monday, 1 - Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Pretoria - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma who returns from Brasilia, Brazil on Monday, 1 November 2004 will depart immediately on a four legged visit to North and West Africa where she will hold bilateral, political and economic discussions with her counterparts.

Minister Dlamini Zuma was in Brazil where she led the South African delegation to the 3rd session of the South Africa - Brazil Joint Binational Commission. While in Brazil, Minister Dlamini Zuma also had bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and paid a courtesy call on President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva where she delivered a message from President Mbeki.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will visit Ghana, Senegal, Algeria and Chad from Monday - Tuesday, 1-9 November 2004.

Ghana (Monday, 1 - Wednesday, 3 November 2004)
In Ghana Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions with her counterpart, Ghanian Foreign Minister - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, during which they will discuss the status of bilateral relations between South Africa and Ghana as well as international and regional multilateral issues of common interest.

Discussions will focus on Ghana's assessment, as current Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of West African regional security issues and on South Africa's continued peace-building and post-conflict efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. The conclusion of bilateral agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, co-operation in the field of culture will also be on the agenda as well as the establishment of a Joint Commission for Co-operation.

Senegal (Wednesday, 3 - Friday, 5 November 2004)
On Thursday, 4 November 2004, Minister Dlamini Zuma will have bilateral political and economic discussions with her Senegalese counterpart, Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio.

Issues on the agenda will include, among others:
· Bilateral political and economic relations;
· Operationalisation of the African Union and its institutions including the Pan-African Parliament which was officially inaugurated in its permanent home on 16 September 2004, the Peace and Security Council, the African Court of Justice;
· The implementation of NEPAD as the socio-economic programme of the African Continent;
· Attempts by the African leadership to create the conditions for peace, security and stability on the African continent, viz the situation in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and others;
· The Middle East Peace Process and developments in Iraq following the handover of sovereignty to a transitional Iraqi government;
· The global fight against terrorism; and
· The reform of the global exercise of governance, viz, the United Nations and all its institutions including the Security Council, the International Monetary Fund.

Algeria (Saturday, 6 - Sunday, 7 November 2004)
Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit to Algeria follows South Africa's hosting of the 4th session of the South Africa - Algeria Binational Commission on 5-6 October 2004 in Pretoria.

While in Algeria, Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold bilateral political and economic discussions with her Algerian counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdelaziz Belkhadem.

Issues on the agenda will include developments in the region, the consolidation of the African agenda and the forthcoming NEPAD Steering Committee and Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee meeting to be hosted by Algiers from 21-23 November 2004.

Chad (Monday, 8 - Tuesday, 9 November 2004)
In Chad, Minister Dlamini Zuma will be accompanied by Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe and Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lulame Xingwana.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will have bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration, Nagoum Yamassoum.

Issues on the agenda will include regional developments and the consolidation of the African agenda.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

31 October 2004