ahead of President Thabo Mbeki for the African Union Summit
16 January 2006
Monrovia â South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will
depart from Monrovia, Liberia, on Tuesday, 17 January 2006, for Khartoum,
Sudan, ahead of President Mbeki to attend the African Unionâs (AU) eighth
Ordinary Ministerial Session scheduled from Friday to Saturday, 20 to 21
January 2006.
The Ministerial meeting is charged with the responsibility of preparing for
the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled from Monday to
Tuesday, 23 to 24 January 2006.
President Mbeki and Minister Dlamini Zumaâs participation in the AU
Ministerial meeting comes within the context of South Africaâs commitment to
strengthen and consolidate the institutions of the African Union in order to
promote the achievement of the African agenda.
African Foreign Ministers will during the Ministerial meeting consider
reports of the:
* sixth Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Conference on the World Trade
Organisation held in Hong Kong in December 2005;
* Meetings of African Ministers of Education, Culture, Health, Science and
Technology;
* AU Commission;
* Draft Common African Position on the United Nations Review process on the
Plan of Action on Small and Light Weapons;
* Situation in the Middle East and Palestine;
* African Commission on Human and Peoplesâ Rights;
* Chairperson of the Pan-African Parliament;
* Outcomes of the World Summit on Information Society held in Tunis in November
2005;
* Meeting of the Troika on the follow-up of the Africa-Europe Dialogue held in
Mali in December 2005;
* Elect members of the African Court on Human and Peoplesâ Rights; and
* Elect a member of the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the
Child.
It is expected that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs will make
recommendations to the AU Heads of State and Government Summit.
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
16 January 2006
