Iranian Women Delegation pay Courtesy Call on Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe

Tshwane - South African Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe today, Monday, 21 August 2006, received an Iranian women's delegation for a courtesy call at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The women are part of an Iranian delegation led by its Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki to the South Africa-Iran Joint Bilateral Commission which began its deliberations today at the Presidential Guesthouse under the chairpersonship of South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

The Iranian women's delegation included Ms Masoumeh Taheri, Director Social Affairs in the centre for women and family affairs in the President's office and Dr Tahmineh Daniali, Advisor and Director-General for the Rural Womens's Affairs in the office at Iranian President with specific responsibility for agricultural development.

During the courtesy call the Iranian women expressed particular interest in the empowerment of rural women through agriculture. As part of this objective, the delegation also met with officials of the Department of Agriculture to examine ways of future co-operation as well as with the Chief Executive Officer in the office for the Status of Women in the Presidency, Ms Susan Nkomo.

For her part Deputy Minister van der Merwe shared with the Iranian delegation the South African government's efforts to empower women to participate fully in poverty alleviation and personal development since the advent of democracy in 1994.

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Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
21 August 2006