Minister Dlamini Zuma arrives in Cote d' Ivoire ahead of International Working Group Meeting

Abidjan - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma arrived Tuesday 18 July in Abidjan, the Capital of Cote d' Ivoire ahead of the meeting of the International Working Group Meeting (IWG) on Côte d'Ivoire scheduled for Thursday 20 July 2006. Minister Dlamini Zuma arrived from the Russian Federation where she was part of the South African Government delegation led by President Thabo Mbeki to the G8 Summit held in St. Petersburg.

Minister Dlamini Zuma's participation in the International Working Group on Cote d' Ivoire comes within the context of South Africa's commitment to supporting the leadership and peoples of Côte d'Ivoire to find a political solution to their current political challenges.

BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH PRESIDENT GBAGBO AND PRIME MINISTER BANNY

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected on Wednesday 19 July, to hold bilateral discussions with President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Banny, to discuss the current situations, as part of preparations for the IWG meeting. Thursday's session of the IWG follows recent discussions between President Thabo Mbeki and the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan with the leadership of Côte d'Ivoire held on Wednesday, 5 July 2006.

Issues on the agenda of Thursday's IWG meeting are expected to include among others the disarmament process and preparations for elections scheduled for October 2006. At the last IWG meeting concern was expressed at the delay in the commencement of the disarmament process. The Group also noted the limited time left for the implementation of the roadmap and urged all the role-players to accelerate the programme.

Military dialogue between the two Chiefs of Staff continues to focus on the reorganisation of the Ivorian army, the creation of an integrated military headquarters and the upgrading of its ranks.
Prime Minister Banny has also embarked on a sensitisation programme ahead of the national identification process while the budget for the election process has been approved. The Independent Electoral Commission has begun to make preparations for the implementation of programmes i.e. the launch of regional and local commissions.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Saturday 22 July 2006.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

c/o South African Embassy, Abidjan
Cote d' Ivoire
18 July 2006