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President Mbeki will lead the South African delegation to the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity/African Economic Community (OAU/AEC Summit), which will take place in Lome, Togo from 10 to 12 July 2000. The Summit will be preceded by the 72nd Ordinary Session of the OAU/AEC Council of Ministers from 6 to 8 July, which will be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Foreign Affairs Director-General Sipho Pityana.

This year's Summit will focus on the following three themes:
* Challenges of AIDS in Africa
* Security and stability within the context of the Algiers
* Declaration in making 2000 a Year of Peace and Stability in Africa and
* Regional co-operation and the integration and the challenge of globalisation.

It is expected that the Summit will focus closely on the various conflict situations on the continent and the issue of unconstitutional changes of government, as discussed at the July 1999 Summit in Algiers. The Summit will also discuss progress made since the adoption of the Sirte Declaration of 9 September 1999, which aims at accelerating the implementation of the Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community. Most significantly, leaders are expected to discuss the draft Constitutive Act of the African Union and the draft Protocol to the AEC Treaty relating to the South African Parliament in accordance with the mandate of the Sirte Declaration. South Africa has been actively involved in preparatory negotiations on the legal texts of the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament. Minister Dlamini Zuma, Speaker Ginwala, National Council of Provinces Chair Naledi Pandor and a delegation of political and legal experts attended the recent preparatory meetings in Tripoli, Libya.

Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will then proceed to Miyazaki, Japan where she will be attending the Foreign Ministers' Meeting representing the Non-Alignment Movement, G77 and G8 from 12-13 July 2000.

Contact Basetsana Thokoane, 083 443 7740

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
3 July 2000