Minister Dlamini Zuma in Addis Ababa ahead of AU Meetings

Addis Ababa - South African Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will today, Wednesday, 28 January 2009, unveil a Plaque at the Opening of the South African Chancery in Addis Ababa ahead of the AU Executive Council and the 12th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly scheduled for 02 - 03 February 2009.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is supported by South African Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Pepani, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, Special Representative on Disarmament and NEPAD, Ambassador Abdul Minty as well as the Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN in New York, Ambassador Baso Sangqu.

Minister Dlamini Zuma and delegation will participate in these meetings within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate the African Agenda, through amongst others the strengthening of institutions of the African Union.

The 12th Ordinary Assembly Meeting, whose theme will be Infrastructure Development in Africa, with emphasis on Transport and Energy Investments, will be preceded by the following meetings:

• 14th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council
• 20th Summit of the NEPAD Heads of State/ Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC)
• 10th Summit of the African Peer Review Forum of Participating Heads of State/ Government

Issues on the Agenda of Summit will, amongst others, include :

• Energy
• Transport
• Infrastructure Investments in line with the Theme,

as well as Political Discussions on the following:

• Peace, security and stability on the African continent, including the DRC, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Sudan etc
• Middle East and Palestine
• Global Financial crisis

Ahead of the 12th Ordinary Session of Summit, a Special Session on the Union Government is also scheduled for 1 February 2009.

President Jakaya Kikwete will open the 12th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, followed by statements from Dr Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission as well as statements by Mr Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations as well as Mr Amr Moussa, Secretay-General of the Arab States.

For more information, contact Nomfanelo Kota on +27 28 259 3787

c/o South African Embassy
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

28 January 2009