International Working Group Meeting
18 July 2006
Abidjan - South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, arrived
Tuesday, 18 July, in Abidjan the Capital of Cote d'Ivoire ahead of the meeting
of the International Working Group Meeting (IWG) on Côte d'Ivoire scheduled for
Thursday, 20 July 2006. Minister Dlamini Zuma arrived from the Russian
Federation where she was part of the South African government delegation led by
President Thabo Mbeki to the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit held in Saint
Petersburg.
Minister Dlamini Zuma's participation in the International Working Group on
Cote d'Ivoire comes within the context of South Africa's commitment to
supporting the leadership and peoples of Côte d'Ivoire to find a political
solution to their current political challenges.
Bilateral discussions with President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Banny
Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected on Wednesday, 19 July, to hold bilateral
discussions with President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Banny to discuss the
current situations as part of preparations for the IWG meeting. Thursday's
session of the IWG follows recent discussions between President Thabo Mbeki and
the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, with the leadership of Côte
d'Ivoire held on Wednesday, 5 July 2006.
Issues on the agenda of Thursday's IWG meeting are expected to include among
others the disarmament process and preparations for elections scheduled for
October 2006. At the last IWG meeting concern was expressed at the delay in the
commencement of the disarmament process. The group also noted the limited time
left for the implementation of the roadmap and urged all the role players to
accelerate the programme.
Military dialogue between the two chiefs of staff continues to focus on the
reorganisation of the Ivorian army, the creation of an integrated military
headquarters and the upgrading of its ranks.
Prime Minister Banny has also embarked on a sensitisation programme ahead of
the national identification process while the budget for the election process
has been approved. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has begun to make
preparations for the implementation of programmes i.e. the launch of regional
and local commissions.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Saturday, 22
July 2006.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
18 July 2006
Source: SAPA
