Council meeting
19 September 2006
South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, will on Wednesday, 20 September in New York, attend the African Union
Peace and Security Council meeting of Heads of State and Government to discuss
the situation in Darfur and consider the mandate of the African Mission in
Sudan (AMIS).
President Mbeki is in New York where he is leading the South African
government delegation to the 61st Session of the United Nations (UN) General
Assembly within the context of the country's conviction that the multilateral
system of global governance remains the only in facing challenges facing
humanity today including pushing back the frontiers of poverty and
under-development including the exercise of global power. South African expects
to be elected to the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) on 16 October 2006.
South Africa's attendance of the African Union (UN) Peace and Security Council
comes within the context of the country's commitment to consolidating the
African Agenda through among others support for post-conflict reconstruction
and development initiatives.
The AU Peace and Security Council meeting in New York on Wednesday will
convene against the background of the adoption of the UN Security Council
Resolution 1706 that calls for the expansion of the UN mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
from the current 10 000 to 17 300 troops and an additional 3 000 civilian
police.
Cote d'Ivoire Summit
Later on Wednesday, 20 September in New York, President Thabo Mbeki,
supported by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will join
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during the Summit convened to discuss the
situation in Cote d'Ivoire. The Summit is part of efforts by the international
community to assist the people of Cote d'Ivoire to address their current
political challenges.
The Summit is expected to be attended by among others:
1. President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Banny of Cote d'Ivoire
2. Presidents of the RDR, PDCI and Secretary-General of the Forces
Nouvelles
3. Presidents of Burkina Faso, Congo-Brazzaville, Ghana, Mali, Niger and
Nigeria
4. Chairman of the Commission of the African Union and Executive Secretary of
ECOWAS.
Tuesdayâs bilateral and other engagements
President Mbeki will, following his address to the UN General Assembly
today, Tuesday, 19 September, supported by Minister Dlamini-Zuma, hold
bilateral discussions with European Union Secretary-General Javier Solana,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Vice Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Ms Tzipi Livni.
Meanwhile Minister Dlamini-Zuma is expected on Tuesday, 19 September, to
hold bilateral discussions with her Chilean counterpart, Foreign Minister
Alejandro. In addition, Minister Dlamini-Zuma is expected to attend the launch
of the UNITAID, an initiative of Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United
Kingdom to create an international drug purchase facility aimed at contributing
to scaling up access to diagnostic kits and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and
Tuberculosis.
African American Institute's Annual Awards Dinner, Tuesday, 19 September
In other important engagements, President Mbeki will tonight, Tuesday 19
September address the African American Institute (AAI) Annual Awards Dinner in
which Phumla Mtala of the University of South Africa will be receiving the
AAI's Distinguished Alumni Award. Leaders of Nigeria, Malawi, Rwanda and Sao
Tome will also attend the function.
Wednesday bilaterals
For Wednesday, 20 September the South African delegation received requests
for bilateral discussions with leaders of Iran and Norway. President Mbeki is
expected to return to South Africa on Thursday, 21 September 2006.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
19 September 2006
