Minister Dlamini Zuma to Undertake an Official Visit to the Gulf, Middle East and Ethiopia

Pretoria- South African Foreign Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will depart South Africa on Tuesday 30 November for a five-nation visit to the Gulf, the Middle East and Ethiopia which will see her pay official visits to Oman, Kuwait, Indonesia and Iran.

Oman- 1-3 December 2004

Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold political and economic bilateral discussions with her counterpart Minister Yusuf bin Allawi Abdullah with a view to strengthening trade and economic relations between South Africa and Oman.

The visit will afford the two Ministers an opportunity to consolidate and strengthen bilateral political and economic links between South Africa and Oman while offering the two an opportunity to examine fields of future co-operation in education, tourism, petro-chemical industry, infrastructure projects and technology exchange.

Bilateral figures in 2003 between the two countries amounted approximately to R123million. Accordingly, Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit will help expand and diversify trade relations between the two countries. In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma will also meet with representatives of the Sultanese business community.

Oman is an active member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation in which both SA and Oman play an active role in promoting the developmental agenda of Africa and the South.

While in Muscat, Minister Dlamini Zuma will also officiate at the opening of the South African Embassy in Oman.

KUWAIT -3-5 DECEMBER 2004.

As part of efforts to expand reciprocal trade and investment with Kuwait, Minister Dlamini Zuma will pay the first official visit to Kuwait for bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart Shaikh Mohamed Sabah Al-Jaber Al Sabah from 3-5 December.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will pay a courtesy call on the Emir of Kuwait Shaikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al Jaber, hold discussions with Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al Jaber and the Speaker of the National Assembly Jassem Al Khorafi.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will conclude her visit with the signing of the Bilateral Trade Agreement and the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments Agreement with her counterpart.

Bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to R744million in 2003. Kuwait private sector has invested several hundred million US dollars in the South African economy mainly in the areas of tourism and the hotel industry.

ETHIOPIA -AU EXTRA-ORDINARY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING 5-8 DECEMBER 2004.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will attend the Extra-Ordinary meeting of the African Union's Executive Council of Foreign Ministers in Addis Ababa from 5-8 December 2004. The Executive Council meeting will discuss two issues referred to it by the Summit of AU Heads of State and Government held in July 2004 in Addis Ababa.

These include the African Union's Prioritised Programme for Achievement and the Budgetary Programme of the continental organisation for 2005.

INDONESIA 9-11 DECEMBER 2004

Minister Dlamini Zuma will pay an official visit to Indonesia from 9-11 December 2004 to hold political and economic discussions with her Indonesia counterpart Minister Hassen Wirayuda.

Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit to Indonesia comes in the context of the forthcoming Asia-Africa Summit marking the 50th Anniversary of the Bandung Conference, scheduled for 21-23 April 2005. South Africa is the co-host of the Asia Africa Sub-Regional Conference (ASSROC) with Indonesia. South Africa hosted the Assroc Ministerial Conference in August 2004 in Durban in preparation for the Asia Africa Summit

The Bandung Conference was held in 1955 to strengthen and consolidate African -Asian Solidarity against colonialism and apartheid. The late Walter Sisulu, Molvi Cachalia and Moses Kotane represented South Africa at the Conference.

The 50th Anniversary of the Bandung Conference takes place against the background of independence by African and Asian states and efforts by African and Asian leaders to turn the tide against poverty and under-development, a legacy of colonialism.

IRAN- 14-15 DECEMBER 2004

In Iran, Minister Dlamini Zuma will lead a senior South African Government officials delegation to the Eighth Session of the South Africa-Iran Joint Bilateral Commission. The Commission will be co-chaired by Minister Dlamini Zuma and her Iranian counterpart, Minister Kamal Kharazzi from 14-15 December 2004.

The meeting will also provide the two Ministers with an opportunity to discuss among others:

· Developments within the AU and NEPAD
· Reform of multilateral institutions including global finance institutions
· Developments within in Iraq
· The Middle East peace process
· Current discussions between Iran and the IAEA

The Joint Commission meeting will also focus on further enhancing the political, economic, social and cultural interactions between the peoples of the two countries.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
29 November 2004.