Minister Dlamini Zuma to lead South African Delegation to the African Union Executive Council of Foreign Ministers Session in Ethiopia, Sunday, 6 March 2005

PRETORIA - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on Sunday 6 March 2005, departed from South Africa for Ethiopia, where she will lead a South African government delegation to the African Union Executive Council of Foreign Ministers Session beginning Monday - Tuesday 7-8 March 2005, in Addis Ababa.

Minister Dlamini Zuma arrived in South Africa on Saturday 5 March from New York where she had led a high-powered South African women delegation to the United Nations Beijing +10 conference.

On Friday 4 March Minister Dlamini Zuma held bilateral discussions with her American counterpart, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in Washington.

The African Union Heads of State and Government Summit held in Nigeria 30-31 January 2005 had mandated a Committee of Fifteen Foreign Ministers to consider two models for the reform of the UN Security Council and make recommendations. Minister Dlamini Zuma forms part of this Committee.

Subsequently the Committee of Fifteen Foreign Ministers met in Swaziland 20-22 February 2005. In accordance with its mandate the Committee of Fifteen Foreign Ministers will make recommendations to the Extra-ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council of Foreign Ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday -Tuesday 7-8 March 2005.

Upon the adoption of the Foreign Ministers' recommendations, the report will be presented as the African position to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his consideration, as he prepares a report to the 2005 Millennium Review Summit.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

7 March 2005