Minister Dlamini Zuma to consolidate relations with Malta, Italy
and the Vatican
Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma will later today Monday 2 April 2007 depart for Europe where she is scheduled
to pay a three-legged official visit from Tuesday - Monday 3-9 April 2007 during
which she will visit Malta, Italy and the Vatican respectively. Minister Dlamini
Zuma will visit Malta, Italy and the Vatican within the context of South Africa¡'s
priority to consolidate and strengthen relations with Europe with a view to pushing
back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa.
Malta
During
discussions with her Maltese counterpart Michael Frendo on Wednesday 4 April 2007
Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to include:
The status of bilateral
political and economic relations between both countries including areas of future
co-operation between both countries;
Developments within Europe and Africa;
and
Other issues of mutual concern including the comprehensive reform
of the United Nations.
Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Frendo are expected
to sign an Agreement on Police Co-operation on conclusion of bilateral discussions.
Economic interaction is also very limited and there is room for improvement. During
2006 South Africa¡¯s total exports to Malta was valued at R56,787 and
South Africa¡¯s total imports from Malta was valued at R37,621. Minister
Dlamini Zuma is expected to depart from Malta on Thursday 5 April 2007 ahead of
her official visit to Italy.
Italy
Minister Dlamini Zuma will
hold discussions with her Italian counterpart, Foreign Minister Massimo D' Alema
on Thursday 5 April 2007. Issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers
Dlamini Zuma and D¡¯Alema are expected to include, among others:
The
status of bilateral political and relations between both countries;
Conflict
resolution, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction in Africa;
Developments
within Africa and Europe; and
Other issues of mutual interest including
the Middle East, and the comprehensive reform of the United Nations.
Bilateral
Economic Relations
TRADE STATISTICS (all figures in EURO '000)
Year
South African Exports to
Italy
South African Imports
from Italy
Total Trade
1994
1,641,000
692,000
2,333,000
1995
2,282000
955,000
3,237,000
1996
1,928,000
956,000
2,884,000
1997
2,421,000
1,006,000
3,427,000
1998
2,144,000
929,000
3,073,000
1999
2,217,000
831,000
3,048,000
2000
2,447,000
979,000
3,426,000
2001
2,019,000
1,061,000
3,080,000
2002
2,034,000
1,007,000
3,041,000
2003
1,531,000
964,000
2,495,000
2004
2,009,986
1,147,481
3,157,467
2005
2,245,024
1,155,832
3,692,796
2006
(Jan-Jun)
1,257,112
899,720
2,156,832
Source
: Istat
The Vatican
Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions
with the Archbishop Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States on Saturday
7 April 2007. Minister Dlamini Zuma and Archbishop Mamberti are likely to discuss
greater co-operation in multilateral fora including peacekeeping and conflict
resolution in Africa.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department
of Foreign Affairs Private Bag X152 Pretoria 0001
