Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to host Secretary-General of the ACP

Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Wednesday 2 May 2007 hold discussions with the Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States Sir John Rumet Kaputin at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The Secretary-General will visit South Africa from Wednesday - Sunday 2-6 May 2007.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions with the Secretary-General within the context of South Africa's commitment to strengthen relations with the ACP with a view to advancing the developmental agenda of the South.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Minister Dlamini Zuma and the Secretary-General of the ACP are expected to include, among others:

· An overview of the activities of the ACP Group;
· The role of South Africa in the ACP Group;
· Intra-ACP Relations;
· The future of the ACP Group;
· The SA-EU Strategic Partnership; and
· The outcome of the recent ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Meeting.

While in South Africa the Secretary-General is expected to hold discussions with Deputy Minister Jabu Moleketi, representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry, Gertrude Mongella the President of the Pan African Parliament, Ben Martin Chairperson of the DTI Parliamentary Portfolio Committee and Ambassador Olukorede Willoughby Deputy Chief Executive of the NEPAD Secretariat.

The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, is one of the largest organised entities of developing countries, with a membership of 79 countries and with an estimated population of over 700 million.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Media Programme for Official Visit to South Africa by Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States Sir John Rumet Kaputin
Wednesday 2 May 2007

For further information contact Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

1 May 2007