Minister Dlamini Zuma to chair Workshop of the AU Committee on the Post-Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan International Convention Centre, Cape Town, Friday, 18 February 2005

Cape Town - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will, in her capacity as Chair of the African Union (AU) Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan, chair a workshop of the Committee on Friday, 18 February 2005 in Cape Town.

Minister Dlamini Zuma's delegation will include Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad.

President Mbeki, in his State of the Nation Address on Friday, 11 February 2005 said, "We (South Africa) have begun to do our work as the Convenor of the Sudan Post-Conflict Reconstruction Committee of the AU, and will focus on this task to contribute to the successful implementation of the vitally important Sudan peace settlement signed last month in Nairobi."

In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma will chair the workshop which is expected to be attended by Foreign Ministers of the AU Committee on the Sudan viz. Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan.

Norway, as chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), will also be represented at the meeting.

Other participants in the meeting will include, among others, the AU Commissioner: Peace and Security, Ambassador Said Djinnit and the AU Special Envoy to the Sudan Peace Process, Ambassador Baba Ghana Kingibe and representatives of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), the African Development Bank, the World Bank, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF, UN Liaison Officer for Peacekeeping, the NEPAD secretariat.

This meeting follows President Mbeki's State Visit to Khartoum from 30 December 2004 - 2 January 2005 and Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad's visit to Kapoeta County, during which he lead a senior government and academic delegation on the first phase of the Department of Foreign Affairs - Sudanese People's Liberation Movement - University of South Africa (DFA-SPLM-UNISA) Institution and Capacity Building Project from 5-11 February 2005.

Issues on the agenda of discussions will include, among others,

• The work of the AU Committee on the Post-Conflict Reconstruction of Sudan;
• The Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/A;
• The DFA-SPLM-UNISA Capacity and Institution Building Project for South Sudan;
• South-South Peace Dialogue; and
• The Darfur Conflict.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

17 February 2005

Media Programme for the AU Committee on the Post-Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan, International Convention Centre, Cape Town, Friday, 18 February 2005

Friday, 18 February 2005

12:00 Arrival of participating media for photo opportunity ahead of commencement of meeting of the AU Committee on the Post Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan

Venue: International Convention Centre
Cape Town

Contact: Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587

12:30 Commencement of meeting of the AU Committee on the Post Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan

Photo opportunity

For further information contact Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

17 February 2005