Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma, as Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), will host an Extraordinary Summit on Madagascar on 20 June 2009 at Sandton Convention Centre,
Johannesburg.
The SADC Summit will be preceded by the meeting of the Council of Ministerial Troika and the Summit Troika of the Organ and SADC Chair on 19 June 2009.
In an attempt to resolve the ongoing stalemate in Madagascar, the Chair of the SADC Organ sent an assessment Mission led by the Executive Secretary, Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomao on 6-8 February 2009. The Second assessment Mission was deployed from 14-21 February led by Hon Lufto Dlamini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
On 30 March 2009, the Chair of the Organ called for an Extraordinary Summit to deliberate on the internal political impasse in Madagascar.
The Summit strongly condemned the unconstitutional change of Power, and the actions of the Military and of Andry Rajoelina. SADC Summit suspended Madagascar from all the activities of the Regional Organisation until such time that the country has returned to constitutional rule.
It is against this backdrop that an Extraordinary SADC Summit is convened to further search for a sustainable political solution to the situation in Madagascar.
Media programme
Friday, 19 June 2009
14h00 -17h00 - Meeting of the Ministerial Troika of the Organ (Swaziland, Angola and Mozambique)
(Photo opportunity)
17h00 - Arrival of Heads of State and Government at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA)
(Photo opportunity)
Saturday, 20 June 2009
09h00 - 10h30 - Meeting of the Council Ministerial Troika (South Africa, Zambia and DRC).
(Photo opportunity)
10h00 - Opening remarks - Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government.
(Open to the media)
17h00 - Press Conference.
Enquiries:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
18 June 2009
Source: SAPA
