Deputy President Jacob Zuma to host his Bulgarian Counterpart, Angel Marin on an Official Visit to South Africa, Thursday - Saturday 2 - 4 December 2004

Pretoria - South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma will host his Bulgarian counterpart, Vice President Angel Marin, on an official visit to South Africa from 2 -4 December 2004.

Vice President Marin will be accompanied by Ms Svetla Toshkova, the Chief of the Cabinet of the Vice President, Mr Nikola Karadimov, the Foreign Policy Secretary of the President of Bulgaria, Mr Oleg Hinkov, Deputy Minister of Health, and Mr Borislav Abdjiev, Deputy Minister of Culture.

Deputy President Zuma and Vice President Marin will lead the political consultations between the two delegations on 2 December 2004. The main purpose of discussions will be to further enhance South Africa's political, economic and trade relations with Bulgaria. The tow principals will exchange views on international and regional issues affecting the two countries:
¨ The African Agenda including the operasionalisation of the African Union (AU ) and the implementation of NEPAD;
¨ Developments within the European Union (EU) with particular reference to expansion of the EU and Bulgaria's progress in negotiations with the EU on full membership;
¨ The reform of the United Nations and all its organs including the UN Security Council and the World Trade Organisation. Bulgaria was elected a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2002 - 2003 period;
¨ Developments with the Middle East Peace Process;
¨ And the international fight against terrorism.

It is expected that a number of agreements will be signed. A Trade Agreement was concluded in 2000 and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in 2004. Agreements on Law-enforcement, Arts and Culture, Science and Technology; Sport and Recreation and Health Care are currently are being finalised.

After the meetings in Pretoria Vice President Marin will visit Cape Town and meet with the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Ebrahim Rassool. The Mayor of Cape Town, Ms NomaIndia Mfeketo, will host a lunch in honour of Vice President Marin. A visit to Robben Island is also included in the schedule.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Trade between South Africa and Bulgaria is improving steadily, with the trade balance in South Africa's favour. South Africa exported goods worth R33.6 million to Bulgaria and imports goods worth R13.8 million from that country. Annual growth of trade between the two countries increased for the period 2003 to 2004. Exports to Bulgaria increased by 8.8% and imports from Bulgaria by 7.3%. Leading exports to Bulgaria are sugar, wool, citrus fruit, insecticides, furniture, pump and elevator devices and iron products. The most important imports are ores, carbonates, seeds, tinned fruit and tobacco.

Bulgaria has been a major role player in the multilateral arena for decades. Bulgaria was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2002/03, and joined NATO in May 2004. It is expected that Bulgaria will be invited to join the European Union in 2007.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 - 990 4853
C/o Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag x152
Pretoria
0001

29 November