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STATEMENT ON THE OFFICIAL TOUR TO MIDDLE EAST BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MR AZIZ PAHAD, 5 - 16 April 2001
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, will depart from South Africa on 5 April 2001 for an extensive tour of the Middle East. He will visit the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The overall objective of the visit will be to strengthen relations with the region, above all to promote economic co-operation.
In Jordan he will review bilateral relations and meet the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Marwan Abd Al-Haleem Al-Hmud with whom he will discuss the outcome of the Arab League Summit held in Amman recently.
In Iraq he will discuss the participation of South African companies in the UN-controlled oil-for-food dispensation to aid the Iraqi people, the humanitarian situation and other issues of bilateral interest.
In Qatar the Deputy Minister will discuss the outcome of the Arab League Summit held in Amman, in view of Qatar's Chairmanship of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. He will also discuss the new joint venture between SASOL and the Qatar Gas and Petroleum Corporation to turn natural gas from Ras Laffan in Qatar into liquefied fuel.
In Saudi Arabia the Deputy Minster will conduct in-depth discussions on bilateral issues and on the ban on beef products imposed by Saudi Arabia on South Africa. The ban has severe negative implication on the South African industry and it is hoped that the Saudi authorities will reconsider their decision.
The growing crisis in the Middle East will be high on the agenda in the entire meeting he will have.
Contact: Basetasana Thokoane at 083-443-7740, (012) 351-0174
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
5 April 2001