Tokyo International Conference on Africaâs Development (TICAD) conference,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
16 February 2006
Addis Ababa - South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sue van
der Merwe, who is leading the South African delegation to the TICAD Conference
presently taking place in Addis Ababa, has urged the international community to
partner with the African Union (AU) in its Post-Conflict Reconstruction and
Development Programmes.
In her address to the TICAD two-day conference (16 - 17 February 2006),
Deputy Minister Van der Merwe highlighted the following:
* Commended Japan and other international sponsors of TICAD for supporting
the AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Programmes.
* Urged other international partners to emulate Japan in this regard.
* Expressed the need for developing strategies to address the fundamental
causes of conflicts and wars on the African continent, including equitable
distribution of resources and inculcating the culture of good governance and
democracy.
* Reiterated South Africaâs principled support for multilateralism in
addressing global challenges and the resolution of conflicts on the African
continent.
* Further committed South Africa to engaging in the Post-Conflict
Reconstruction and Development processes of countries emerging from
conflicts.
* Called for the reform, democratisation and strengthening of the United
Nations (UN) and all its institutions including the UN Security Council.
At the conclusion of the TICAD Conference on Friday, 17 February 2006,
Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe will lead another South African delegation to
the Indian Ocean Rim Council of Ministers Meeting, scheduled for 21 - 22
February 2006, in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Deputy Minister Sue Van der Merwe will return to South Africa on 24 February
2006.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
16 February 2006
