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Minister Dlamini Zuma arrives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tuesday 10 May 2005 Abu Dhabi - South African Foreign Affairs Minister,
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today, Tuesday, 10th May 2005 arrived in Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates as part of a four nation visit to the Gulf States that will
include, Abu Dhabi, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.Minister Dlamini Zuma was
accompanied by Dr Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director General at the Department of Foreign
Affairs responsible for the Middle East and Asia and other senior officials of
the Department of Foreign Affairs. The visit is aimed at expanding the
frontiers of trade, investment and tourism opportunities between South Africa,
Middle East and Asia region. Minister Dlamini Zuma held discussions with Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information on: * Assessment
on the state of relations that exist between South Africa and the United Arab
Emirates. Both Ministers agreed on the need to further consolidate existing trade
and investment opportunities.
* Minister Dlamini Zuma indicated that South
Africa had a lot of potential that needed to be harnessed and that "it was
crucial to arrange for our business people to meet with their counterparts".
Both Ministers agreed that there were potential synergies that still lay
untapped in the economies of both the United Arab Emirates and South Africa that
needed to be expanded. In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma indicated the fields
of manufacturing, services and the petroleum industry that needed to be explored
for the benefit of both countries. *Situation in the Middle East - Both
Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that a lasting solution be found
in the resolution of the conflict in the M-E. Minister Dlamini Zuma reiterated
South Africa's position that " peace in the Middle East will indeed contribute
to peace in the world" and that " everything should be done to contribute
to the peace process" South Africa appraised the United Arab Emirates
on its initiatives in the Middle East and further supported the ongoing engagements
by the UAE in assisting both financially, morally and otherwise". Both Ministers
agreed on the need to ensure that the Middle East region remains "prosperous,
successful and stable for the benefit of all its people" The Ministers
exchanged views on non proliferation and disarmament issues. In this regard, Minister
Dlamini Zuma indicated that " the existence of nuclear weapons always create
tensions and potential dangers for humanity".
The situation in Sudan
and especially, Darfur was also discussed.Initiatives currently undertaken by
the African Union also received prominence in the discussions. The Emirates
Center for Strategic Studies - Minister Zuma pays a visit Minister Dlamini
Zuma was also a guest at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research.
The Center serves as a focal point for scholarship on Arab Gulf and UAE issues
of strategic significance and assists decision makers in arriving at policy decisions.
At the end of the presentation by the ECSSR, Minister Dlamini Zuma expressed
a keen interest in looking at ways of working together with the Centre in a mutual
benefiting manner that will assist in initiatives aimed at consolidating the African
Agenda and boosting economic ties between the two countries. Wednesday,
11 May 2005 Abu Dhabi African Ambassadors accredited in Abu Dhabi
will have a breakfast meeting with Minister Dlamini Zuma and various bilateral
meetings are scheduled between Minister Zuma and the following dignitaries: *
Bilateral meeting with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. On conclusion of her engagements
in Abu Dhabi, Minister Dlamini Zuma will proceed to Dubai. In Dubai *
Courtesy call to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rahid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince
of Dubai and Minister of Defence. Minister Dlamini Zuma will continue her
engagement of broadening the base of knowledge that exists in the Gulf on South
Africa by interacting with the Dubai based Gulf Research Centre. Members of the
academic community and the media will share views with Minister Dlamini Zuma on
a wide range of issues. As part of her interactions with the business community
in Dubai, Minister Dlamini Zuma will engage in discussions with the South African
Business Council Executive Committee at a dinner function. The Business Council
will appraise Minister Zuma on its objectives, the business environment in the
UAE and on available business opportunities. Minister Dlamini Zuma will be expected
to guide the Council on how best South Africa's private sector can engage in the
environment presented by the UAE and other countries in the Gulf region. For
more information, contact Nomfanelo Kota on +27 82 459 3787
Issued by the
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag x 152
Pretoria
0001 10
May 2005 | 
