scheduled United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on the relationship
between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations
Security Council
18 March 2009
South African Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today,
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 arrived in New York where she is leading a South
African Government delegation to participate in a high level debate in the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) scheduled for later today.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is supported in this regard by Foreign Affairs Deputy
Director-General George Nene, South Africaâs Permanent Representative to the
United Nations, Ambassador Baso Sanqu and Xolisa Mabhongo, Chief Director
United Nations Political.
The UNSC debate today will focus on how best the international community can
support African Union peace operations that are conducted with a mandate from
the Security Council. During its term in the Security Council in 2007 and 2008,
South Africa had focused on developing a strategic partnership between the UNSC
and the African Union Peace and Security Council and on drawing attention to
the need for the international community to assist with the funding and
logistics associated with African peacekeeping operations.
The debate on Wednesday in the United Nations Security Council is expected
to consider the African Union-United Nations Panelâs final report, which makes
a number of important proposals on how to build up the African Unionâs capacity
to respond to crises as they occur and to promote long-term stability on the
African continent. These include the establishment of new funding mechanisms to
enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing of
United Nations mandated peace operations undertaken by the African Union.
Such funding mechanisms would not only allow for the expeditious and
effective deployment of well-equipped troops and effective support
arrangements, but would also provide a solid basis for longer-term
capacity-building projects in Africa.
This South African initiative contributed towards the adoption of the landmark
resolution 1809 (2008) and the establishment of a high level African
UnionâUnited Nations Panel dedicated to exploring co-operation between the two
bodies in greater depth, under the chairmanship of the former Prime Minister of
Italy, Dr Roman Prodi.
The Security Council proceeds from the premise that whilst it has the
primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,
regional organisations such as the African Union play an important and
complementary role in conflict resolution and peacekeeping. It is also
recognised that Africa has both the greatest need for peacekeeping and the
biggest challenge in matching its willingness to act with the resources needed
to secure the sustained success of its interventions.
Bilateral discussions with Unites State (US) Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton
Washington
Following her participation in the United Nations Security Council debate on
the relationship between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the
UNSC, Minister Dlamini Zuma will later in the day proceed to Washington where
she is expected to hold bilateral political, economic and trade discussions
with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, United State of
America (USA).
Minister Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions with Secretary of State Clinton
within the context of consolidating existing strategic bilateral relations
between South African and the United States of America (USA). America remains
one of South Africaâs largest trading partners.
In this regard, the USA ranks first as a destination for South African
exports and is third below Germany and China as a source of imports. Exports to
the USA increased in nominal terms from R30 billion in 2004 to R41 billion in
2006, while imports recorded an increase from R26 billion to R35 billion for
the same period.
The United States is the largest portfolio investor and the second largest
source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Africa, after the United
Kingdom (UK). (Total U.S. FDI is $6.6 billion with total portfolio investment
in South Africa at the end of 2007 amounting to $ 51.6 billion.
The meeting between Minister Dlamini Zuma and Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton is the first since the appointment and confirmation of Hillary Clinton
as the new US Secretary of State.
In this regard, the two are expected to discuss among others:
* review of bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two
countries
* discussion around the current global financial and economic crisis
* discussions on regional political developments focusing on Africa and
America.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
17 March 2009
