President Thabo Mbeki to lead South African Delegation to Commonwealth Kampala, Uganda.

Pretoria – South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe, will on Friday – Sunday 23-25 November 2007 lead a senior South African government delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which will be held under the banner, “Transforming Commonwealth Societies to Achieve Political, Economic and Human Development”, in Kampala, Uganda.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be preceded by a Pre-CHOGM Meeting of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers scheduled from Wednesday – Thursday 21-22 November 2007 to which Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe will lead the South African delegation.  Deputy Minister van der Merwe will depart from South Africa for Uganda on Tuesday 20 November 2007.

It is expected that the Foreign Ministers will have substantive discussions on issues such as democracy, good office, terrorism, international trade and economic co-operation, financing for development, environmental issues and international disasters.

In addition, Foreign Ministers will receive reports from the Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the Commonwealth Business Forum, and the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) and Civil Society. 

Heads of Government are also expected to focus their discussions on:

·        Global challenges including terrorism, conflict prevention and resolution, peace and consensus building;

·        Commonwealth’s fundamental political values including democracy and democratic process, good governance, separation of constitutional powers, public accountability and transparency, prevention of corrupt practises, protection of human rights, the rule of law, freedom of the press, empowerment of women and other disadvantaged sections of the society and a vibrant civil society;

·        Economic liberalisation and global economic stability including dept relief, aid architecture, poverty eradication, trade justice, climate change, role of the State as a facilitator of economic reform and opportunities, and assessment of progress to achieve the MDGs, in particular education, gender equality, health and HIV/AIDS;

·        Development issues including capacity and institution building in member countries especially Small States, and strengthening the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC);

·        Networking for development through strategic partnerships: linking the Commonwealth, its global partners and the regional and international organisations for development; and

·        Climate change which is an issue that has gained considerable international importance since the Malta CHOGM and needs an international response that is relevant to many Commonwealth members, especially Small States.  

Heads of Government will also receive reports of the Commission on Respect and Understanding, the Committee on Commonwealth Membership and the Steering Committee on Commonwealth Connects.

The CHOGM shall as part of the agenda, appoint a new Secretary-General who will succeed the Hon. Donald McKinnon.  

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration will also meet on Thursday 22 November 2007 to finalise its report.  The Committee of the Whole at the level of Senior Officials will meet on Tuesday 20 November 2007 to finalise the draft Communiqué, which will be submitted to the Ministers.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

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