President Thabo Mbeki arrives in Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh – South African President Thabo Mbeki, today Sunday 29 June 2008 arrived in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt where he will lead the South African government delegation to the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government scheduled from Monday – Tuesday 30 June – 1 July 2008.

President Mbeki will be supported by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and Foreign Affairs Director-General Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba.

During his visit to Sharm El Sheikh, President Thabo Mbeki will later today Sunday 29 June 2008 participate in the 19th NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) Meeting and the 9th African Peer Review Forum (APRF).

The South African delegation will participate in the African Union Summit,  Executive Council and NEPAD meetings within the context of South Africa’s priority to strengthen institutions of governance on the Continent with a view to advancing the political and economic developmental agenda of Africa.

The Summit will be held under the theme: “Meeting Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation.”  In this regard, the meeting is expected to be addressed by the Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation Willem-Alexander, the Crown Prince of Orange, the Netherlands.

The Summit will receive reports on:

• On the Status of Implementation of the Regional and Continental Agenda of Integration.
• The activities of the Peace and Security Council;
• The Implementation of the Outcome of the Abuja Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Other Related Infectious Diseases, held in Abuja in May 2006; on Malaria;
• Promotion of Maternal and Child Health in Africa and on the
• Current Food Crisis in Africa
• Implementation of the Summit Decision on the Reform of the UN.
• And adopt the Single Legal Instrument on the Merger of the Court of Justice and the African Court on Human and People’s Rights of the AU.

While in Sharm El-Sheikh, President Mbeki is expected to hold bilateral
discussions from Heads of State and Government also participating in the African
Union Summit.

President Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday 2 July 2008.

NEPAD HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE (HSGIC) AND AFRICAN PEER REVIEW (APR) FORUM
The NEPAD Head of State meeting will meet on Sunday 29 June 2008 and discuss among others preparations for the forthcoming G8 Summit in Japan,   implementation of the principle of rotation of members of the NEPAD HSGIC; the status of AU/NEPAD integration process; and the designation of the NEPAD Secretariat’s CEO. 

Later on Sunday 29 June 2008, the 28-member African Peer Review Forum will convene to assess Uganda, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.  It will also witness the signing of the APRM Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for accession by Togo.  

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
29 June 2008