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Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe to hold Discussions
with Iranian Counterpart Alireza Sheykhattar Pretoria - South African Deputy
Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe will hold discussions with her Iranian counterpart
Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheykhattar at the Diplomatic Guesthouse in Pretoria
on Thursday, 18 May 2006. Deputy Ministers van der Merwe and Sheykhattar
will on conclusion of their discussions open the first Meeting of the Heads of
Mission Working Group of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation
(IOR-ARC). Consultations between Deputy Ministers van der Merwe and Sheykhattar
come within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate South-South
relations with a view to achieving the developmental agenda of the South in general
and Africa in particular. During the Sixth Meeting of the Council of Ministers
of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC) in Tehran,
Iran from 21 to 22 February 2006, the Council decided, on recommendation of the
Committee of Senior Officials, to set up a Working Group for member states consisting
of Heads of Diplomatic Missions based in Pretoria. This Working Group will
review the periodic work program presented by the Chair of the Council and to
fast track the work program of the IOR-ARC. This first session of the Meeting
of the Heads of Mission Working Group of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for
Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC) will focus on the following issues: - Follow
up on the Council of Ministers Meeting and Senior Officials committee held in
Tehran;
- Review of Special Fund's draft;
- Voluntary contribution
to the Special Fund;
- Discussions on the present status of Membership Contribution;
- Indian
Ocean Rim Business Forum;
- Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group;
- 2007
Year of Tourism; and
- Celebrations of the Tenth Year and the Economic Summit.
Deputy
Minister Sheykhattar will depart from South Africa on Friday, 19 May 2006. Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
17 May 2006
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