session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
10 September 2006
Pretoria - South African President, Thabo Mbeki, supported by Foreign
Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will lead the South African delegation to
the 61st session of the UNGA in New York from Monday, 18 - Wednesday, 20
September 2006.
President Thabo Mbekiâs participation in the 61st session of the UNGA comes
within the context of South Africaâs conviction that the multilateral system of
global governance remains the only solution to current challenges facing
humanity including the need to push back the frontiers of poverty and
under-development.
Accordingly, the government views the forthcoming UNGA as an excellent
opportunity to:
* continue consultations with other United Nations (UN) member-states on the
process of the reform of UN
* promoting multilateralism and respect for international law as the most
appropriate means of achieving global political and economic stability, and
security, and
* promoting the African Agenda and New Partnership for Africa's Development
(NEPAD) in the context of the work of the UN.
During UNGA 61, South Africa expects to be elected into the non-permanent
seat in the UN Security Council for 2007 - 2008.
The 61st session of the UNGA will afford the international community an
opportunity to review progress made with the implementation of the reforms to
the UN as agreed during the 2005 session and bid the Secretary-General, Mr Kofi
Annan, farewell as he completes his tenure as Secretary-General of the World
Body at the end of 2006.
The South African delegation to the 61st UNGA will be seized, amongst
others, with the following issues:
* the promotion of the reform of the UN
* the follow up of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and
the outcomes of the major UN conferences and summits
* the support of the UN for the promotion of the African agenda and NEPAD
* advancing South-South co-operation within the context of the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 (G-77) plus China
* support of the international community for the Middle East peace
process
* support of the international community for the global campaign against
terrorism.
President Mbeki is expected to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, 19
September 2006, and also attend a special Summit convened by Secretary-General,
Kofi Annan, on Côte dâIvoire.
President Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Thursday, 21
September 2006.
Enquires:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
10 September 2006
