Minister Dlamini Zuma concludes Cuban Official Visit

Havana: South African Foreign Minister, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on Wednesday, 27 August 2008 concluded her official visit to Cuba. During her visit, Minister Dlamini Zuma presided over the Regional Heads of Mission Conference for the Latin American and Carribean Heads of Mission. The Conference took stock of developments in the region and received a political input on Cuba's regional perspective on the economic, social and political situation in the region.
 
Upon conclusion of the successful Regional Heads of Mission Conference, Minister Dlamini Zuma met both the Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and the Cuban Minister of Foreign Investments and Economic Co-operation Ms Marta Lomas Morales within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate and strengthen existing bilateral political and economic relations between South Africa and Cuba within the broad framework of advancing South - South relations.
 
Both the discussions with the Cuban Foreign Minister and the Foreign Investments and Economic Co-operation Ministry reaffirmed the need to strengthen the existing relations and further expand the co-operation on all fronts and expressed satisfaction with the current relations between the two countries.
 
Key highlights in the official visit included a wreath-laying ceremony by Minister Dlamini Zuma and delegation at the Jose Marti Memorial in honour of all those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.  As part of consolidating the African Agenda, Minister Dlamini Zuma also briefed the African Diplomats based in Cuba on the political situation on the continent.
 
Minister Dlamini Zuma is scheduled to arrive in South Africa on Friday 29th August 2008 ahead of the incoming State visit by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.
 
For more information, contact Nomfanelo Kota on + 27 82 459 3787
 
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
c/o South African Embassy
La Havana, Cuba

27 August 2008