Minister Dlamini Zuma concludes visit to the United States of America

Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today Thursday 11 January 2007 concludes her working visit to the United States of America during which she visited Washington and New York from Sunday - Wednesday 7-10 January 2007.

While in Washington, Minister Dlamini Zuma held discussions with her US counterpart Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice during which matters on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) including Somalia, Middle East and Iran were discussed.

In New York Minister Dlamini Zuma held discussions with newly appointed Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and participated in a ceremony to hand over the Chairpersonship of the Group of 77 + China (G-77 + China) to Pakistan.

Minister Dlamini Zuma also held bilateral political discussions with the current President of the UN Security Council, the representative of the Russian Federation. During the week of the visit of the Minister to New York, South Africa's permanent representative to the UN Dumisani Kumalo represented South Africa at the UN Security Council during a debate on threats to international peace and security. South Africa took up its position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on 2 January.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is scheduled to return to South Africa on Thursday 11 January 2007 ahead of the funeral service of the late South Africa's High Commissioner to Namibia Tim Maseko at the Walter Sisulu Hall in Randburg on Friday 12 January and participate in the 95th anniversary celebrations of the ANC in Witbank, Mpumalanga.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

11 January 2007