Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
The British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Lynda Chalker, will meet Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Aziz Pahad in Pretoria on Friday 22 September 1995.
Their Talks, a follow-up to previous bilateral discussions held in London on 21 and 22 November 1994, will focus on issues of mutual concern, inclpean Union matters and a briefing on the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Johannesburg.
The previous discussions in London, which covered a wide range of subjects, including the Reconstruction and Development Programme, drug trafficking and peacekeeping, were so successful that it was decided to meet annually, alternatively in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The British High Commissioner, Sir Anthony Reeve, and the South African High Commissioner in London, Mr Mendi Msimang, will both attend Friday's talks.
Lady Chalker, who is also Britain's Minister for Overseas Development, is currently on a seven-day working visit to South Africa.
The United Kingdom is one of South Africa's major trading partners and foreign investors. Britain's desire to be actively involved in South Africa was reiterated both during the visit of Prime Minister John Major in September last year and during that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in March 1995.
NOTE: Media representatives are invited to attend a photo opportunity before the start of the talks at 10h45 in the Diplomatic Guest House, 201 Matroosberg Road, Waterkloof Heights, Pretoria on Friday 22 September.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA 21 SEPTEMBER 1995