(SADC) Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on politics, defence and
security co-operation
3 August 2006
Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma departed
South Africa today, Thursday, 3 August for Windhoek where she will lead a
senior South African government delegation to the 8th meeting of the SADC
Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation in Namibia on Friday, 4 August 2006. The MCO is expected to make
recommendations to the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for
17 - 18 August 2006 in Maseru, Lesotho.
Minister Dlamini Zuma's participation in this ministerial meeting comes
within the context of South Africa's commitment to consolidate the African
agenda through South Africa's participation in SADC institutions.
Ministers Mosiuoa Lekota and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Deputy Minister of
Correctional Services Loretta Jacobus will accompany Minister Dlamini Zuma.
Issues on the agenda of the MCO are expected to include, among others:
* consideration of the reports of the Inter-State Politics and Defence
Committee (ISPDC) and the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee
(ISDSC)
* progress on the SADC Standby Force
* the status of the ratification, signature and accession to the protocols
related to the Organ and
* preparations for the SADC Conference on Defence and Security Cooperation.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Friday, 4
August 2006.
Enquires: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
3 August 2006
Source: SAPA
