Minister Dlamini Zuma to hold Discussions with Botswana Counterpart

Pretoria – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Saturday 29 March 2008 hold bilateral political, economic and trade discussions with her counterpart from Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Mompati Merafhe in Gaborone, Botswana.

The discussions are a follow-up to a series of meetings taking place at high level between Botswana and South Africa.  Matters of regional interest are being considered on an ongoing basis within the context of South Africa’s commitment to strengthen bilateral relations with Botswana with a view to consolidating the African developmental agenda.

Accordingly, Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Merafhe will consider and endorse the outcome of the Meeting of Senior Officials of the Botswana-South Africa Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation which met in South Africa in November 2007.

Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Merafhe are expected to discuss, among others:

• The status of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries with a view to evaluating the work of the Botswana-South Africa Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation;
• A review of developments within the region; and
• Exchange notes on political developments in the two countries.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on conclusion of discussions with Minister Merafhe ahead of her departure to Sudan where she will lead the AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Ministerial Committee to discussions with both the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

28 March 2008