President Mbeki to depart for AU Peace and Security Council Meeting on Côte D'Ivoire, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tshwane - South African President Thabo Mbeki, will later today Wednesday 5 October 2005, depart for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he will attend the African Union's (AU's) Peace and Security Council meeting convened to discuss the situation in Côte D'Ivoire on Thursday, 6 October 2005.

President Thabo Mbeki is accompanied by Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad,

The Peace and Security Council meeting follows the 38th meeting of the Council, chaired by President Mbeki, in New York on 14 September 2005 during which it was decided to review the situation in Côte d'Ivoire before 30 October.

In addition, the Peace and Security Council requested that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urgently convene a Summit of Heads of State to assess the situation in the Côte d'Ivoire with respect to the problems in the implementation of the Pretoria led mediation efforts.

In this regard, the Peace and Security Council Meeting will receive recommendations from ECOWAS following the Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria on Friday, 30 September 2005.

President Thabo Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Friday, 7 October 2005.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Tshwane
0001

5 October 2005