Minister Dlamini Zuma to Pay Official Visits to Niger, Sao Tome & Principe and Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Tuesday, 5 - Saturday, 9 April 2005

Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will, today, Tuesday - 5 April 2005 - depart from South Africa on a three-African-nation visit to Niger, Sao Tome & Principe and the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) from Tuesday - Saturday, 5-9 April 2005.

The three-African nation visit of Minister Dlamini Zuma comes in the context of South Africa's foreign policy whose central thrust remains the consolidation of the African agenda including building strategic, strong and vibrant bilateral political and economic relations with sister countries in the African continent.

Niger (Tuesday, 5 - Thursday, 7 April 2005)

In Niger, accordingly, Minister Dlamini Zuma will be hosted to a bilateral discussion by her counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and African Integration Achiatou Mindaoudou on Wednesday, 6 April 2005.

In this context the talks between the two Ministers are expected to focus on:

• The consolidation of bilateral political and economic relations between both countries - including the opening of a South African diplomatic mission in Niamey, a bilateral air services agreement, and the promotion of South African investment in Niger mining and agricultural sectors
• Regional conflicts with particular reference to the situation in the Ivory Coast
• The operationalisation of the African Union and its institutions; and
• The reform of the UN system

Bilateral Economic Relations between South Africa and Niger

South African exports to Niger (R million)
2003: R64 million
2004: R30.6 million

South African imports from Niger (R million)
2003: R3 million
2004: R402 thousand

Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (Thursday, 7 April 2005)

The visit to the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is the first such high-level visit by a senior South African Minister following recognition of SADR by South Africa in September 2004.

During bilateral discussions with her counterpart Mr. Ould Salek, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the SADR, on Thursday 7 April 2005 Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to raise, among others, the following issues:

• the consolidation of bilateral relations
• humanitarian assistance, and
• political cooperation between the two countries.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will also be briefed by her counterpart on the status with regards to the United Nations Baker Plan, a framework through which the current conflict between SADR and Morocco should be resolved.

Sao Tomé & Principe (Friday, 8 - Saturday, 9 April 2005)

In Sao Tome & Principe, Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and Communities Ovidio Manuel Barboso Pequeno on Friday, 8 April 2005.

South Africa, together with regional role-players, played an important role in reversing the unconstitutional transfer of power in Sao-Tome & Principe two years ago in line with African Union prescripts.

Issues on the agenda for discussions are expected to include, among others:

• The consolidation of bilateral political and economic relations between both countries;
• A briefing on the regional situation in West and Southern Africa;
• The operationalisation of the African Union and its institutions including the third session of the Pan African Parliament, NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism.
• Reform of the UN system

During her visit to Sao Tome & Principe, Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to pay a courtesy call on President Fradique de Menezes and hold discussions with Prime Minister Damiao Vaz d'Almeida as well as the Ministers of National Resources and Environment, Finance and Planning, Health, and Education and Culture.

Bilateral Economic Relations between South Africa and Sao Tomé & Principe

SA exports

2000 R 4 033 000
2001 R 1 676 000
2002 R 2 280 000
2003 R 3 498 000
2004 R 2 331 000

SA imports

2000 R 799 000
2001 R 121 000
2002 R 84 000
2003 R 52 000
2004 R 13 000

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
5 April 2005