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President Thabo Mbeki will lead the South African delegation to the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in Luanda, Angola, from 2 to 3 October 2002.

The Summit will be preceded by the SADC Council of Ministers which will be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on behalf of South Africa, from 30 September to 1 October 2002.

The meeting will review political and socio-economic developments within the region over the past year and be briefed on the following:

* The food shortages in the region and the consequent humanitarian crisis;
* The restructuring of SADC;
* The SADC/US Forum;
* EU/SADC Co-operation;
* Community Building;
* SADC Program of Action; and
* Preparations for the 2002 SADC Consultative Conference on 28-30 October 2002 in Gaborone, Botswana.

The meeting will receive a report on the African Union detailing decisions taken at the Inaugural Summit of the African Union held in Durban in July 2002. In particular Council will be requested to consider the hosting of AU Institutions, the appointment of the Chair and the Deputy Chair of the Commission as well as the Commissioners, draft criteria for the hosting of ECOSOC and the relationship between the AU and the regional economic communities (REC's). As Chair of the AU South Africa will be expected to play a leading role in these discussions.

With regard to NEPAD, the NEPAD Secretariat will provide the Council of Ministers with a Report on the Extra-ordinary SADC Summit on NEPAD held in Durban in July 2002 and will be invited to brief the Council on progress made on the implementation of NEPAD and its programmes.

For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, 30 September 2002
Source: Sapa