Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to Undertake Official Visit to Mauritania, Ghana and Nigeria, Thursday, 20 - Monday, 31 January 2005

PRETORIA - South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, departs South Africa on Thursday 20 January 2005 for a three-nation official visits to Mauritania, Ghana and Nigeria from 20 - 31 January 2005.

In Mauritania, Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to hold political and economic bilateral discussions with her counterpart Minister Mohamed Vall Ould Bella, before signing an agreement on A Framework for Co-operation, with an emphasis on economic development and trade between the two countries.

In this regard, anticipated future Areas of co-operation include agri-business, mining (iron ore), oil and tourism. Since 1998 SA exports to Mauritania have increased by R84 million from R9,6 million, while imports have increased from R163 584 in 1998 to R825 000.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will, following her visit to Mauritania, proceed to Accra, Ghana where she will lead the South African Government delegation to the African Union (AU) Ministerial Preparatory Meeting on the Common Defence, Security and Non-Aggression Pact.

In Nigeria, Minister Dlamini Zuma will lead the South African government delegation to the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers of the AU meeting from 27 - 28 January 2005 in preparation of the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for 30 - 31 January 2005 in Abuja. President Thabo Mbeki will lead the South African delegation to the Summit.

Issues to be discussed during the two meetings will include:
· Reform of the UN Security Council;
· Situation in the Middle East and Palestine;
· Human and Peoples' Rights;
· Terrorism;
· HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Polio Eradication;
· NEPAD;
· Food Security situation;
· Drug control;
· Consideration of various draft protocols;
· The African Diaspora;
· Progress on WTO negotiations;
· Participation in Peacekeeping Operations in Africa;
· Asian- Africa Summit in Banding: April 2005;
· China-Africa Co-operation Forum: 2009.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
19 January 2005