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Minister Dlamini Zuma to Visit DRC Ahead of President Thabo
Mbeki Tshwane - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
will travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday, 15 March 2006
to consolidate preparations for President Mbeki's visit scheduled for Thursday,
16 March 2006 in Kinshasa. President Mbeki is expected to co-chair with President
Joseph Kabila, the third session of the South Africa - DRC Bi-national Commission
(BNC). Minister Dlamini Zuma, together with her counterpart, Minister of
Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Raymond Ramazani Baya, will co-chair
the Ministerial session of the South Africa - DRC BNC to prepare a political and
economic report for the Presidential Session of the Commission on Wednesday, 15
March 2006. South Africa's participation in the third session of the South
Africa - DRC BNC comes within the context of the its commitment to consolidating
peace efforts and transition to democracy and stability in DRC. In addition,
South Africa places much emphasis on post-conflict reconstruction and development
in the DRC having facilitated the signing of the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement
on the Transition in the DRC on 17 December 2002. The signing of this agreement,
for the first time, paved the way for peace and stability in the DRC. In
addition, President Mbeki, supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad led
a South African government delegation to the ceremony Promulgating the DRC constitution
on 18 February 2006. This paved the way for the draft electoral law that was adopted
on 21 February 2006 thus establishing a timeline and date for elections as well
as the nomination of electoral candidates. In this regard, the first round of
Presidential and legislative elections in the DRC have been scheduled for April
2006. However, it is understood that the Independent Electoral Commission of the
DRC has proposed 18 June 2006 and 28 August 2006 for the first round and second
round of elections. The third session of the South Africa - DRC Bi-national
Commission, co-chaired by Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Joseph Kabila is expected
to evaluate: - The status of Politics and Diplomacy co-operation includes
the capacity building project, the public service census project, electoral assistance,
population and immigration matters;
- Defence and Security co-operation
includes security sector reform projects;
- Economy, finance and infrastructure
co-operation includes spatial development initiatives, mining, geology and metallurgy,
energy, civil aviation, technical assistance in financial administration and agriculture;
and
- Social and humanitarian affairs which includes co-operation in the
fields of education, and humanitarian and health projects.
President
Thabo Mbeki will return to South Africa on Thursday, 16 March 2006. Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Tshwane
0001 14 March 2006
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