President Thabo Mbeki to Host Sudanese Counterpart

Pretoria – South African President Thabo Mbeki will from Tuesday 6 November to Wednesday 7 November 2007 host his Sudanese counterpart President Omer Hassan Ahmed El Bashir for discussions on the peace efforts in the Sudan and bilateral political, economic and trade issues at Tuynhuys in Cape Town.

Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, in announcing the visit by President El Bashir said, “President El Bashir will pay a working visit to South Africa scheduled from Monday – Wednesday 5-7 November 2007 within the context of South Africa’s support for peace efforts in the Sudan and our priority to consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade relations with Sudan.”

In this regard, Presidents Mbeki and El Bashir will hold discussions on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the impact of the decision by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to suspend its participation in the Sudan Government of National Unity (GNU).

“In addition, South Africa is the Chair of the African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Committee and discussions will focus on post-conflict reconstruction and development in the Sudan, the Darfur Peace Talks in Libya as well as progress towards the deployment of the United Nations – African Union hybrid force for Darfur.

Minister Dlamini Zuma welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1784 (2007) on Wednesday 31 October 2007 which extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) for six months until 30 April 2008.” “Minister Dlamini Zuma also welcomed the commitment from the members of the UN Security Council to extend the Mission for further periods after an assessment, requested from the Secretary-General on whether any changes were needed in the UNMIS mandate to strengthen the Mission’s ability to facilitate full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”

Minister Dlamini Zuma reiterated the call by the UN Security Council to donors to, “support disarmament, demobilization and reintegration initiatives, along with the Joint Integrated Units that were meant to include both Government troops and those of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, in order to help reduce tensions.”

“Accordingly, discussions between Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Omer El Bashir on Tuesday 6 November 2007 are expected to include, among others:

• The implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement;
• The situation in Darfur and progress towards the operationalisation of the UN-AU Hybrid Force;
• Developments in the Libya peace process; and
• The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries

“President El-Bashir will depart from South Africa on Wednesday 7 November 2007,” concluded Minister Dlamini Zuma.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

4 November 2007