Deputy President Jacob Zuma Arrives in Italy

Deputy President Jacob Zuma arrived in Stresa, Italy last night, 21 October 2004, on a working visit to attend the General Assembly of the World Political Forum, and also to strengthen bilateral relations with the Italian Republic and the Vatican.

The theme of this year's meeting of the World Political Forum General Assembly,

is: "Poverty in the World: A Challenge to Globalisation". The Forum was founded by Mr Mikhail Gorbachev, the former President of the Russian Federation.

The Deputy President will on 25-26 October, visit Rome, where he will hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart Mr Gianfranco Fini, the Deputy President of the Italian Council of Ministers, Cardinal Angel Sodano, the Secretary of State of the Vatican, and Mr Piero Fassino, the National Secretary of the Democrats of the Left party.

He returns to South Africa on the 27th of October.

Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda on 0939 334 3799 707.

Issued by The Presidency
Pretoria
22 October 2004