Minister Dlamini Zuma concludes Working Visit to the UNGA ahead of the SA-Algeria Binational Commission

New York-South African Foreign Minister, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will today, Thursday 30 September 2004 conclude the official visit New York where she attended the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly ahead of the SA-Algerian Binational Commission scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday 5-6 October 2004.

Minister Dlamini Zuma had until Wednesday 22 September been part of an official South African government delegation to the UNGA led by President Thabo Mbeki. Following the departure of President Mbeki, Minister Dlamini Zuma assumed the leadership role of the South African delegation to the UNGA.

During her tenure as leader of the South African delegation, Minister Dlamini Zuma held 11 bilateral meetings with her counterparts from India, Syria, Brazil, Germany, Luxembourg, Iceland, Thailand, Ukraine, Colombia and China. Minister Dlamini Zuma also held discussions with the Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa.

During the bilateral meetings, Minister Dlamini Zuma was consulted on issues ranging from bilateral political and economic relations between South Africa and the respective countries; conflict resolution in the continent of Africa; co-operation at a multilateral levels including reform of the UN, NEPAD and the AU.

Minister Dlamini Zuma also attended the joint India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum Ministers meeting; the NAM-EU Troika meeting, Ministerial meeting of the Comprehensive Test ban treaty, European Union meeting in honour of the Chairperson of the AU, alpha Konare and key players on the Sudan, African Union Ministerial meeting on anti-personnel landmines, the Commonwealth Ministerial group on Guyana and the UNDP/UK high level meeting on Achieving Millennium Development goals. Minister Dlamini Zuma addressed the Africa-America Institute meeting on: The African Union: New opportunities and Challenges.

Minister Dlamini Zuma departs New York on Friday 1 October 2004 to prepare for the 4th Session of the SA-Algeria Binational Commission aimed at consolidating and strengthening bilateral political, economic and trade relations between SA and Algeria, which have grown exponentially over the past five years since the inception of the Commission. The SA delegation will be led by President Thabo Mbeki whilst the Algerian delegation will be led by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

President Bouteflika is expected to arrive in South Africa on Monday 4 October 2004.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria, 0001, 30 September 2004.