Nabil Shaath to meet President Thabo Mbeki

Pretoria - Nabil Shaath, Special Envoy of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will on Friday 14 September 2007 meet President Thabo Mbeki at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to deliver a message from President Abbas.

SA has been part of efforts to add impetus to international efforts to help bring an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In this regard, President Mbeki has hosted a number of meetings between representatives of both Palestinians and Israelis under the umbrella of the Spier Initiative.

The Spier initiatives provided a platform in which Palestinian and Israeli representatives could exchange views and to share in the South African experience of the peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy. In that context current and former members of the South African government who had participated in the Codesa process took part including representatives of the former intelligence services.

South Africa remains convinced that the solution to the Middle East conflict lies in the establishment of a Palestinian state co-existing side by side with the Israeli state existing within secure borders.

Nabil Shaath is also expected to hold further discussions with Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, Ministers Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Ronnie Kasrils respectively.

Media Programme for Visit to South Africa by Palestinian Special Envoy Naabil Shaath

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

13 September 2007