20 July 2006
South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, concluded her
visit to Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday, 20 July 2006, where she led a South African
government delegation to the ninth Session of the International Working Group
(IWG) on Cote d'Ivoire held in Abidjan on Thursday.
During her visit to Cote d'Ivoire, Minister Dlamini Zuma held bilateral
discussions with Ivorian President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Banny as part of
preparations for the IWG meeting and to deliver a message from President Thabo
Mbeki.
The visit to Cote d'Ivoire was part of an eight-nation official visit in
which Minister Dlamini Zuma, was part of the South African delegation led by
President Thabo Mbeki to consolidate bilateral political, economic and trade
relations with the West African countries of Guinea Conakry and Niger.
Minister Dlamini Zuma had also during the same period led a South African
government delegation to the African Union's Executive Council meeting to
discuss strategic political, economic and organisational matters of the African
Union (AU) which served as a basis for deliberations by the African Union Heads
of State and Government Summit held in the Gambia.
Minister Dlamini Zuma was also part of the Presidential delegation to
Germany for the launch of the 2010 World Cup emblem and the official visit to
the country which culminated in bilateral discussions between President Mbeki
with German President Horst Koehler and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
During this period, Minister Dlamini Zuma also visited Iran where she held
bilateral discussions with her counterpart and Ali Larinjani to discuss
bilateral political and economic matters including developments around Iran's
nuclear programme.
Following the visit to Iran, Minister Dlamini Zuma joined the Presidential
delegation to the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit within the context of South
Africa's commitment to strengthening relations with countries of the North with
a view to consolidating the African agenda.
Minister Dlamini Zuma returns to South Africa on Friday, 21 June.
Enquires:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
20 July 2006
Source: SAPA
