Minister Dlamini Zuma to lead SA Delegation to the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting

New York – South African Foreign Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will later today Wednesday 24 September, on the margins of the UN General Assembly, lead the South African government delegation to the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting in New York.

The South African delegation currently comprises Foreign Affairs Director-General Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba, Ambassadors Dumisani Kumalo, Chris Pepani, Abdul Minty, George Nene and Basso Sangqu

Minister Dlamini Zuma is in New York where she is leading the South African Government delegation to the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly within the context of the South Africa’s conviction that the multilateral system of global governance remains the only hope in addressing challenges facing humanity today.

The Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting is expected to discuss among other issues:

• Global food crisis
• Economic issues
• Small states issues
• Commonwealth democracy work
• The Kampala Declaration on transforming societies to achieve political, economic and human development and climate change

Furthermore Minister Dlamini Zuma will attend the Ministerial meeting on Climate Change and Development: Progress for adaptation hosted by the UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, Bangladesh and the UN Foundation.

As part of efforts to strengthen bilateral political relations with countries of the world, Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold further bilateral discussions with her counterparts from:
Nigeria, Algeria, Poland, Estonia, Palestine, Jordan, India, Indonesia and Turkey.

On Tuesday, Minister Dlamini Zuma held bilateral discussions with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, EU Commissioner Louis Michel and Foreign Ministers of Cyprus,  Saharawi, Australia, Ethiopia and Belgium

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

C/O South African Permanent Mission
New York
24 September 2008.