Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane arrives in Egypt ahead of XV NAM Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 15 to 16 July 2009.

Cairo– International Relations and Co-operations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, on Sunday 12 July 2009, arrived in Egypt ahead of the XV NAM Summit scheduled to take place at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from 15 to 16 July 2009.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane is expected to participate in the NAM Ministerial meeting and NAM Committee on Palestine scheduled for 13 and 14 July 2009 respectively. The Ministerial meetings will be preceded by Senior Officials meetings in two Committees namely, the Political Committee and the Economic and Social Committee on 11 and 12 July 2009. The Ministers will receive reports by the Chair of the preparatory Senior Officials Meeting and by the Chair of NAM on the activities of the Movement, respectively.

The preparatory Ministerial Meeting will consider the recommendations regarding the preparations for the Summit regarding the following: Agenda, Election of the Bureau, Organisation of Work and the consideration and adoption of the Outcome Documents.

The XV NAM Summit convenes under the theme “International Solidarity for Peace and Development” and is expected to focus on the following areas:

• International solidarity for peace and development.
• International financial crisis and its impact on the Members of the Movement, means to deal with the financial crisis.

As a build up to the XV NAM Summit a Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau was held in Havana, Cuba, from 27 to 30 April 2009. The NAM Ministerial meeting on 13 -14 July 2009 will refine the draft documents for presentation to the Heads of States at XV Nam Summit.

Issued by Nomfanelo Kota on 082 459 3787.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag X152
Pretoria, 0001

12 July 2009.