President Thabo Mbeki to Address EU-Africa Summit on Good Governance and Human Rights

 Lisbon – South African President Thabo Mbeki is today Saturday 8 December 2007 expected to lead discussions on Good Governance at the EU-Africa Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Saturday – Sunday 8-9 December 2007 in Portugal.

Other topics to be discussed by the EU-Africa Summit of Heads of State and Government include Peace and Security; Energy and Climate Change; Migration; Economic Partnership Agreements; as well as Infrastructure and Development.

President and Mrs Thabo Mbeki arrived earlier today in Lisbon for the EU-Africa Summit supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad; Foreign Affairs Director-General Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba; Adv Mojanku Gumbi and South Africa’s Ambassadors to Portugal, the EU and the AU, Thandi Profit-Mclean, Dr Anil Sooklal, Chris Pepani respectively and Ambassador Jessie Duarte.

President Mbeki is attending the EU-Africa Summit within the context of strengthening relations with the EU countries with a view to the Consolidation of the African Agenda.

The EU-Africa Summit is expected to endorse the Africa-EU Strategy developed at Ministerial level focusing on Peace and Security; Good Governance and Human Rights, Trade and Regional Integration; and Development Issues.

President Mbeki will also during his visit to Portugal and on the margins of the Summit hold bilateral discussions with Presidents of Sudan, Mauritania, and Côte d’Ivoire whilst receiving courtesy calls from leaders of Germany, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Bulgaria, Hungary and Ireland.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

8 December 2007