Mbeki
14 March 2006
Tshwane - South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will
travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday, 15 March 2006,
to consolidate preparations of President Mbeki's visit scheduled for Thursday,
16 March 2006, in Kinshasa. President Mbeki is expected to co-chair with
President Joseph Kabila, the third session of the South Africa-DRC Bi-national
Commission (BNC).
Minister Dlamini Zuma, together with her counterpart Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International co-operation Raymond Ramazani Baya, will co-chair the
Ministerial session of the South Africa-DRC BNC to prepare a political and
economic report for the Presidential Session of the Commission on Wednesday, 15
March 2006.
South Africa's participation in the third session of the South Africa-RC BNC
comes within the context of the its commitment to consolidating peace efforts
and transition to democracy and stability in DRC.
In Addition, South Africa places much emphasis on post-conflict
reconstruction and development in the DRC having facilitated the signing of the
Global and All-inclusive Agreement on the Transition in the DRC on 17 December
2002. The signing of this agreement, for this first time, paved the way for
peace and stability in the DRC.
In addition, President Mbeki, supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz
Pahad led a South African government delegation to the ceremony Promulgating
the DRC constitution on 18 February 2006. This paved the way for the draft
electoral law that was adopted on 21 February 2006 thus establishing a timeline
and date for elections as well as the nomination of electoral candidates. In
this regard, the first round of Presidential and legislative elections in the
DRC have been scheduled for April 2006. However, it is understood that the
Independent Electoral Commission of the DRC has proposed 18 June 2006 and 28
August 2006 for the first round and second round of elections.
The third session of the South Africa-DRC Bi-national Commission, co-chaired
by President Thabo Mbeki and Joseph Kabila is expected to evaluate:
* The status of Politics and Diplomacy co-operation includes the capacity
building project, the public service census project, electoral assistance,
population and immigration matters;
* Defence and Security co-operation includes security sector reform
projects;
* Economy, finance and infrastructure co-operation includes spatial development
initiatives, mining, geology and metallurgy, energy, civil aviation, technical
assistance in financial administration and agriculture; and
* Social and humanitarian affairs, which includes co-operation in the fields of
education, and humanitarian and health projects.
President Thabo Mbeki will return to South Africa on Friday, 17 March
2006.
Enquires:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
14 March 2006
