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President Thabo Mbeki to depart for New York
12 September 2005
Tshwane - South African President Thabo Mbeki will today (Monday, 12 September 2005), depart South Africa for New York ahead of the Review Summit of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) scheduled for Wednesday to Friday, 14 to 16 September and Saturday to Wednesday, 17 to 28 September 2005, respectively.
The presidential delegation includes Mrs Zanele Mbeki and Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Heads of State and Government will at the High Level Review Summit consider progress towards the MDGs as outlined in the Millennium Summit of 2000. These goals include halving extreme poverty, reducing infant mortality by two-thirds and achieving universal primary education by 2015.
The Summit will also consider a package of recommendations on the comprehensive reform of the United Nations (UN) including the UN Security Council and international finance institutions. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, requested, a group of 32 countries, including South Africa, to look into different aspects of the reform package with the objective of facilitating speedy negotiations and outcomes in time for consideration by the Heads of State and Government during the UN Summit. The UN Summit marking the 60th anniversary of the UN is expected to draw the largest number of Heads of State and Government ever.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 September 2005
Source: SAPA