Minister Dlamini Zuma to represent South Africa at the UN Security Council Debate, 18 March 2009, New York

Pretoria- South African Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will, today 17 March 2009 depart for New York to participate in a high-level debate in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) scheduled for 18 March 2009.

The debate will focus on how best the international community can support African Union peace operations that are conducted with a mandate from the Security Council.

During its term in the Security Council in 2007 and 2008, South Africa had focused on developing a strategic partnership between the UNSC and the African Union Peace and Security Council and on drawing attention to the need for the international community to assist with the funding and logistics associated with African peacekeeping operations.

This South African initiative contributed towards the adoption of the landmark resolution 1809 (2008) and the establishment of a high-level African Union – United Nations Panel dedicated to exploring co-operation between the two bodies in greater depth, under the chairmanship of the former Prime Minister of Italy, Dr. Roman Prodi.

The debate on Wednesday in the UN Security Council is expected to consider the African Union – United Nations Panel’s final report, which makes a number of important proposals on how to build up the African Union’s capacity to respond to crises as they occur and to promote long-term stability on the African continent. These include the establishment of new funding mechanisms to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing of United Nations-mandated peace operations undertaken by the African Union. Such funding mechanisms would not only allow for the expeditious and effective deployment of well-equipped troops and effective support arrangements, but would also provide a solid basis for longer-term capacity-building projects in Africa.

The Security Council proceeds from the premise that whilst it has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, regional organisations such as the African Union play an important and complementary role in conflict resolution and peacekeeping. It is also recognised that Africa has both the greatest need for peacekeeping and the biggest challenge in matching its willingness to act with the resources needed to secure the sustained success of its interventions.

MINISTER DLAMINI ZUMA TO HOLD BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON

WASHINGTON -South African Foreign Minister, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Thursday 19 March hold bilateral political, economic and trade discussions with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, USA.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions with Secretary of state Clinton within the context of consolidating existing strategic bilateral relations between South African and the United States of America

BILATERAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Bilateral relations between South Africa and the United States of America remain strong and are considered to be of a strategic nature. Since 1994, business, civilian and governmental links with the USA have expanded exponentially and a strong, long-term SA-US working partnership has been established. The importance of the US to South Africa’s national and international interests can be seen in the United States of America’s full support of South Africa’s domestic objectives such as fostering economic growth, overcoming poverty and social imbalances, increasing the skills base and promotion of trade. 

The United States of America is one of South Africa’s leading trading partners. The country ranks first as a destination for South African exports and is third below Germany and China as a source of imports. Exports to the USA increased in nominal terms from R30 billion in 2004 to R41 billion in 2006, while imports recorded an increase from R26 billion to R35 billion for the same period. The United States is the largest portfolio investor and the second largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Africa, after the U.K. (Total U.S. FDI is $6.6 billion with total portfolio investment in South Africa at the end of 2007 amounting to $ 51.6 billion).

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

17 March 2009