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20 March 2009

Washington DC: South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will today, Friday, 20 March 2009 meet with the leadership of Howard University in Washington DC. This meeting on the eve of our Human Rights Day will take place within the context of South Africa's priority to strengthen bonds of friendship with civil society and academia.

Howard University occupies a special place in South Africa's history as some of our heroes and heroines in the past century were welcomed as students in this prestigious institution. Minister Dlamini Zuma, on behalf of South Africa donated an amount of R2 million to this institution's students who were victims of Hurricane Katrina in January 2006

As part of her United States visit, Minister Dlamini Zuma participated in a high -level debate at the United Nations Security Council discussing how best the international community could support the African Union peace operations that are conducted with a mandate from the Security Council.

Minister Dlamini Zuma also met yesterday, her counterpart, US Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton and discussed a wide range of bilateral, political and economic issues which focused on the developments in Zimbabwe, Sudan, Madagascar as well as consolidating trade links between South Africa and the United States of America.

Prior, to her departure for South Africa, this afternoon, Minister Dlamini Zuma will also update and engage with Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ambassadors based in Washington DC on continental as well as global developments affecting our region in our capacity as the Chairperson of Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected in South Africa on Human Rights Day, 21 March 2009.

For more information contact:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
20 March 2009
Source: Sapa