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President Thabo Mbeki to host Palestinian Counterpart President
Mahmoud Abbas Tshwane - South African President Thabo Mbeki will host his
Palestinian counterpart President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) for bilateral political
and economic discussions at Tuynhuys, Cape Town on Friday 31 March 2006. President
Abbas will, on the invitation of President Mbeki, pay a State Visit to South Africa
scheduled from Thursday - Saturday, 30 March - 1 April 2006. President Abbas's
State Visit to South Africa comes within the context of South Africa's priority
to promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and post-conflict reconstruction
and development in the Middle East, through amongst others, continued dialogue
with both the Israelis and Palestinians. In this regard President Mbeki,
on conclusion of the historic Palestinian elections in January this year said,
"the people of Palestine have elected Abu Mazen, leader of the PLO, as their
President. They have elected Hamas as their majority legislative representatives.
Democratically they have constituted the legitimate authorities that must lead
them in their continuing quest for an independent state of Palestine, democracy
and development." "We who promote democracy can not afford to
challenge the consequences of a democratic process. We must take appropriate measures
to create the conditions and climate to bring about the peaceful resolution of
the Palestinian-Israeli crisis." "As before, the South Africa
government and people will continue to work with the government and people of
Palestine to contribute to their efforts to find a peaceful solution." Issues
on the agenda of discussions between Presidents Mbeki and Abbas are therefore
expected to include, among others: - The status of bilateral political
and economic discussions between both countries;
- A briefing on the current
situation in between Israel and Palestine following elections in Palestine on
25 January and Israel on 28 March 2006;
- A briefing on the outcomes of
the Arab League Summit being hosted by Sudan 28-29 March 2006;
- Developments
in the peace process between Israel and Palestine;
- Briefings on the political
and socio-economic conditions in both the Middle East and SADC regions; and
- The
situation in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Great
Lakes region.
While in South Africa President Abbas is also scheduled
to pay a courtesy call on former President Nelson Mandela, address the National
Assembly, hold discussions with the Jewish Board of Deputies, Arab ambassadors
based in South Africa and the Muslim Judicial Council. President Abbas is
scheduled to depart from South Africa on Saturday 1 April 2006.
Issued by Ronnie
Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag
X152
Tshwane
0001 29 March 2006 | 
