BuaNews (Tshwane)
Richard Mantu
4 April 2005
Pretoria — Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma will lead a government delegation on a three African nation visit to Niger, Sao Tome & Principe and the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) this week.
The minister departs tomorrow and is expected back on Saturday, 9 April.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the visit was in the context of the country's foreign policy, whose central thrust remained building strategic and strong bilateral political and economic relations with sister countries in the continent.
Dr Dlamini-Zuma will first make a stop in Niger, where she will hold bilateral discussions with her counterpart Achiatou Mindaoudou on Wednesday.
"In this context the talks between the two ministers are expected to focus on the opening of a South African diplomatic mission in Niamey, a bilateral air services agreement, and the promotion of South African investment in Niger's mining and agricultural sectors," said Mr Mamoepa.
On Thursday, Dr Dlamini Zuma visits the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, the first such high-level visit by a senior South African Minister following recognition of SADR by Tshwane in September 2004.
She will be hold discussions with Ould Salek, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the SADR.
They will discuss the consolidation of bilateral relations, humanitarian assistance, and political cooperation between the two countries.
Dr Dlamini-Zuma will also be briefed by her counterpart on the status regarding the United Nations Baker Plan, a framework through which the current conflict between SADR and Morocco should be resolved.
In Sao Tome and Principe, she will hold bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and Communities Ovidio Manuel Barboso Pequeno on Friday.
South Africa, together with regional role-players, played an important role in reversing the unconstitutional transfer of power in Sao-Tome and Principe two years ago in line with the African Union prescripts.
Issues on the agenda are expected to include, among others, a briefing on the regional situation in West and Southern Africa, the operationalisation of the AU and its institutions including the current third session of the Pan African Parliament, Nepad and the African Peer Review Mechanism.
There, Dr Dlamini Zuma is expected to pay a courtesy call on President Fradique de Menezes and hold discussions with Prime Minister Damiao Vaz d'Almeida.
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