N Dlamini Zuma concludes visit to USA ahead of visit to Ivory
Coast

13 January 2006

New York – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
concludes her visit to the United States today, Friday 13 January 2006, ahead
of her visit to Côte d’Ivoire to attend the third meeting of the Ministerial
International Working Group on Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday, 15 January 2006, in
Abidjan. Minister Dlamini Zuma was in the United States of America where she
handed over, on behalf of the government of South Africa, a cheque of R2
million to victims of Hurricane Katrina and assumed on behalf of South Africa
the chairperson of the Group of 77 (G-77).

The visit to Cote d’Ivoire takes place within the context of the appointment
of a new Prime Minister last year, Charles Konan Banny and the formation of a
new Cabinet on 28 December 2005, following an African Union (AU) mediation
process by Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo and Mamedou Tandja. The
Ministerial International Working Group on Côte d’Ivoire, comprises Nigeria,
South Africa, Benin, Ghana, Niger, France, United States, Britain, the
International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Union, African Union and
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Ministerial Group is tasked with evaluating, controlling and monitoring
the implementation of the Ivorian Peace Process. Minister Dlamini Zuma will
depart from Côte d’Ivoire on Monday, 16 January 2006, for Liberia where she
will join the delegation led by President Thabo Mbeki at the inauguration of
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
13 January 2006