for sustainable world society, Kleinmond, 2 March 2009
1 March 2009
Pretoria: President Kgalema Motlanthe, supported by Minister of Foreign
Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will on Monday, 2 March 2009, host the meeting
of the Socialist International (SI) Commission for a Sustainable World Society
to be held at the Arabella Spa, Kleinmond, Western Cape.
The Socialist International is the worldwide organisation of social
democratic parties and currently brings together 170 political parties and
organisations from all continents.
President Kgalema Motlanthe will tonight, Sunday, 1 March 2009, host a
banquet to welcome the members of the Socialist International Commission,
whilst Minister Dlamini Zuma will on Monday, 2 March 2009 open and participate
in the meeting in her capacity as a member of the Commission.
The agenda of the meeting will amongst others focus on:
* Africaâs experience in tackling global warming and climate change and the
continentâs perspective on the current global negotiations;
* a review of the status of the negotiations leading to the United Nations
Copenhagen Conference to be held in December this year and preparations for the
Commissionâs Report to be presented in September 2009;
* the granting of an SI Environment Award;
* the Commissionâs next activities; and
* the current global financial crisis.
Other participants at the meeting will include representatives of
governments led by Socialist International parties in the region and members of
the Sustainable World Society (SWS) Commission.
Discussions will be chaired by the co-chairs of the Commission, Ricardo
Lagos, former President of Chile and a Special Envoy of the United Nations
Secretary-General on climate change, and Goran Persson, former Prime Minister
of Sweden.
The meeting in South Africa forms part of a programme of activities for
2009, which will also see meetings of the Commission in China, Washington D.C.
and at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.
Media programme
Monday, 2 March 2009
9h00: Media to arrive for photo opportunity and the opening session of the
Socialist International Commission meeting
Venue: Arabella Spa, Kleinmond, Western Cape
(Please RSVP)
(Please present Press Cards)
10h00: Photo opportunity and commencement of meeting
Media in attendance for opening remarks
Contact:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Media enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
1 March 2009
