President Mbeki to Attend SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-Operation Meetings

Addis Ababa – South African President Thabo Mbeki will  today Thursday 31 January 2008, supported by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, participate in the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation meeting, on the fringes of the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President Mbeki will join the Heads of State of the SADC Organ at which he will present a report of his facilitation process between the main political protagonists in Zimbabwe namely ZANU-PF and the two MDC factions.

President Mbeki, will brief his SADC counterparts within the context of the mandate bestowed upon him by SADC Heads of State and Government in March 2007 to facilitate between the government and opposition in Zimbabwe with a view to assisting the parties find a solution to their political challenges.

In addition President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Mandisi Mpahlwa, will also today Thursday 31 January 2008 lead the South African government delegation to the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government that will be held under the banner, “Industrialisation in Africa.”

The AU Summit of Heads of State and Government was preceded by a meeting of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) and the African Peer Review Forum (APRF) on Wednesday 30 January 2008.

At the AU Summit, Heads of State and Government will:

• Consider the Report of the Executive Council on the Audit of the Union and the Report of the Ministerial Committee on the Union Government
• Elect and appoint the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Commission;
• Consider the appointment of the Commissioners;
• Consider the appointment of the Members of the Peace and Security Council; and
• Adopt the Budget for 2008.

Heads of State will also receive reports on the:

• Activities of the Peace and Security Council and the State of  Peace and Security in Africa and;
• Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee.

Heads of State and Government will also debate the proposed participation of the African Diaspora as an Observer in the Assemblies of the African Union.

President Thabo Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Sunday 3 February 2008.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

31 January 2008