Minister Dlamini Zuma to Attend African Union Extraordinary Summit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 31 October 2005

Tshwane - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will today Sunday 30 October 2005 depart South Africa for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to lead the South African government delegation to the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Monday, 31 October 2005.

During this extraordinary session, Heads of State and Government of the AU are expected to receive a report of the Committee of Ten on the reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, from Chairperson of the Committee President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone.

The Committee of Ten (10) Heads of State and Government, consisting of two representatives per region, and chaired by President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone was established at the 4th Extraordinary Session of the AU in Addis Ababa on 4 August 2005 with a view to popularising Africa's position regarding the comprehensive reform of the United Nations system including the Security Council.

At this session, the Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the African position of two permanent seats with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership including the right of veto and five non-permanent seats. Africa currently has two non-permanent seats on the Council with an additional rotating seat shared between Africa and Asia.

This Session comes within the context of the decision by the United Nations General Assembly in September this year to review progress of efforts to reform the United Nations in order to make it more broadly representative, efficient and transparent by the end of December 2005.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Tshwane
0001

30 October 2005