Washington, DC — Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been at the U.S. State Department this morning for a "comprehensive review" of U.S.- South African relations with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. High on her agenda is continuation of the U.S.- South Africa Binational Commission established during the Clinton Administration.
When he became Secretary of State, Powell ordered a review of all bi-national commissions in which the United States participates.
Asked about the U.S.-South Africa commission's future at a reception given for her at the South African Embassy Tuesday evening, Dlamini-Zuma said she thinks the Bush Administration recognizes the need for strong ties between her country and the United States, but acknowledged that the Clinton administration roots of the Commission may require that it undergo some cosmetic changes if it is to continue. "Perhaps there might be another name for it," she suggested as one possibility.
Leadership of the Commission is another complicating factor. Thabo Mbeki had chaired it when he was South Africa's Deputy President, and Al Gore when he was U.S. Vice President. If Gore had won, he and Mbeki had been expected to chair the Commission as Presidents. Two possibilities for leadership should the Commission continue are chairmanship at the Deputy President-Vice President level, or at the Foreign Minister-Secretary of State level.
Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma will also discuss broad African issues. Zimbabwe, regional conflict in West Africa and Congo are of particular concern and interest to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who also is said to think that South Africa has a special role to play in foreign affairs.
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Dlamini-Zuma is also a doctor and former Minister of Health for South Africa. The HIV/AIDS problem affecting South Africa and the Africa continent and the court fight being waged by international drug companies are on the agenda.
The minister would also like to heighten the profile of a "Millennium Africa Recovery Plan" championed by the Mbeki administration, and in brief, formal remarks at the reception, she called on the United States to "partner" with African nations in a "plan for the recovery of the continent."
Africa is "changing for the better" Dlamini-Zuma said. "Twenty years ago an elected President was a rare species."
The Organization of African Unity (OAU), she said, "is being transformed into an African Union that is going to be quite different from the OAU [today]." Whereas the OAU has been concerned with peace and stability issues, she said, the new organization will emphasize development issues. Information and communications technology and general infrastructure development, as well as health and human resources, are of primary concern.
The new body will have a "consultative parliament" composed of five members from each African nation. It is an important sign that "Africa is beginning to develop shared values as a continent," Dlamini-Zuma said. The United States can help, she said. "We Africans need to do for ourselves, but we also need partnership."
This is the foreign minister's first visit to the United States.
