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28 January 2008

Addis Ababa: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will today Monday, 28 January 2008, in her capacity as Chairperson, host a Ministerial meeting of the Committee of the Countries of the Region on Comoros on the margins of the 12th Executive Council of the African Union (AU) Foreign Ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The afore-mentioned Ministerial Committee is composed of Foreign ministers of Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa and Seychelles. The Foreign Ministers of Sudan and Senegal, as countries contributing troops to the African Union Electoral and Security Assistance Mission (MAES) in the Comoros will also participate in this meeting.

The Ministerial Committee of Countries of the Region on Comoros has been mandated by the African Union to facilitate peace and national reconciliation in the Union of the Comoros in line with the Fomboni Accords, the Beit Salaam Agreement and the constitution of the Union of the Comoros.

This session of the Countries of the Region on Comoros follows that hosted by Minister Dlamini Zuma in South Africa in September 2007 and will review:
* the current political situation in the Comoros
* discuss and make recommendations towards achieving a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Comoros political crisis.

Upon conclusion, Minister Dlamini Zuma will continue her participation in the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers of the African Union that will lay the basis for the 10th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly to be held under the banner of "Industrial Development of Africa", scheduled from Thursday, 31 January to Saturday, 2 February 2008, to which President Mbeki will lead the South African delegation.

Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
28 January 2008