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29 February 2008

Lusaka: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Saturday, 1 March 2008, depart from Lusaka, Zambia for Gaborone, Botswana where she will lead a South African government delegation to the 7th Informal Nordic-Africa Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled from Monday, 3 March 2008 to Tuesday, 4 March 2008.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is in Lusaka to attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Foreign Ministers meeting which will wind its deliberations today Friday, 29 February 2008. Minister Dlamini Zuma will participate in this session of the Nordic-Africa Informal Ministerial Consultations within the context of South Africa's priority to promote the African developmental agenda through among others, strategic engagement with countries of the North.

It is expected that participants from Africa will include representatives from Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria and Zambia while the Nordic delegation will comprise representatives from Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

The main theme of the meeting will be climate change and green technology, including the outcomes of a Nordic – African Task Force meeting held recently in Copenhagen; special concerns of African countries, the vulnerability of African countries to the adverse effects of climate change, the adaptation to climate change, the transfer of climate-friendly technologies, shared challenges and experiences as well as potential for joint initiatives.

Discussions are also expected to include democracy and development, peace and security, small arms and light weapons and the reform of the United Nations. Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Tuesday, 4 March 2008, ahead of her official visit to Switzerland scheduled from Wednesday, 5 March 2008 to Monday, 10 March 2008.

Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
29 February 2008