President Mahmoud Abbas
29 March 2006
South African President Thabo Mbeki will host his Palestinian counterpart
President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) for bilateral political and economic
discussions at Tuynhuys, Cape Town, on Friday, 31 March 2006.
President Abbas will, on the invitation of President Mbeki, pay a State
Visit to South Africa scheduled from Thursday to Saturday, 30 March - 1 April
2006.
President Abbasâs State Visit to South Africa comes within the context of South
Africaâs priority to promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and
post-conflict reconstruction and development in the Middle East, through
amongst others, continued dialogue with both the Israelis and Palestinians.
In this regard President Mbeki, on conclusion of the historic Palestinian
elections in January this year said, âThe people of Palestine have elected Abu
Mazen, leader of the PLO, as their President. They have elected Hamas as their
majority legislative representatives. Democratically they have constituted the
legitimate authorities that must lead them in their continuing quest for an
independent state of Palestine, democracy and development."
âWe who promote democracy can not afford to challenge the consequences of a
democratic process. We must take appropriate measures to create the conditions
and climate to bring about the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli
crisisâ.
âAs before, the South Africa government and people will continue to work
with the government and people of Palestine to contribute to their efforts to
find a peaceful solution.â
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Presidents Mbeki and Abbas are
therefore expected to include, among others:
* The status of bilateral political and economic discussions between both
countries;
* A briefing on the current situation in between Israel and Palestine following
elections in Palestine on 25 January and Israel on 28 March 2006;
* A briefing on the outcomes of the Arab League Summit being hosted by Sudan
28-29 March 2006;
* Developments in the peace process between Israel and Palestine;
* Briefings on the political and socio-economic conditions in both the Middle
East and Southern African Development Community (SADC) regions; and
* The situation in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, Côte dâIvoire, and the Great
Lakes region.
While in South Africa President Abbas is also scheduled to pay a courtesy
call on former President Nelson Mandela, address the National Assembly, and
hold discussions with the Jewish Board of Deputies, Arab ambassadors based in
South Africa and the Muslim Judicial Council.
President Abbas is scheduled to depart from South Africa on Saturday, 1
April 2006.
Media programme for State Visit to South Africa by Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas:
Thursday, 30 March 2006
12h00: Arrival of media for photo opportunity on arrival of Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas
Venue: VIP Lounge
(Between Domestic and International Terminals)Cape Town International
Airport
Arrival of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Media in attendance for photo opportunity
Friday, 31 March 2006
07h30: Arrival of media ahead of official welcoming ceremony in honour of
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Venue: Tuynhuys in Cape Town
Bilateral discussions between President Thabo Mbeki and Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas
10h00: Arrival of media ahead of joint press conference by President Thabo
Mbeki and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
10h50: Joint press conference
12h00: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address Parliament
19h00: Media arrive for photo opportunity ahead of official dinner hosted by
President Thabo Mbeki in honour of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
19h30: Official dinner hosted by President Thabo Mbeki in honour of Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas
Venue: Tuynhuys in Cape Town
1 April
12h00: President Abbas to pay courtesy call on former President Nelson
Mandela
Venue: Johannesburg
(Accreditation required)
RSVP:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
David Hlabane
Cell: 082 561 9428
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
29 March 2006
