Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane concludes successful official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane concluded her successful official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria on 04 September 2011.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane’s visit took place within the context of strengthening and renewing political, bilateral and diplomatic relations between South Africa and Bulgaria as the two countries move towards celebrating 20 years of diplomatic relations.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane met with her counterpart Nickolay Mladenov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, to discuss, amongst other things, cooperation in the European Union, the reform of Global Institutions of Governance such as the United Nations Security Council and world financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The two Ministers agreed to pursue several agreements in the areas of trade and education, especially in the field of mathematics and technology and the implementation of the study conducted by Department of Trade and Industry on linking the Cape Town port and the Bulgarian port in the Black Sea.

Further discussions were held with the Bulgarian Minister of Environment with a view to cooperate and collaborate on the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Durban from 28 November to 09 December 2011.  
Minister Nokoana-Mashabane paid a courtesy call to the President of Bulgaria during which she sent greetings from His Excellency, President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma.  

The Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Director-General for Europe, Ambassador Rapu Molekane, and senior officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

For further information contact Clayson Monyela on 0828067405

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
www.dirco.gov.za

05 September 2011