Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
The President of the Republic of Portugal, Dr Mario Soares and Mrs Soares, accompanied by a delegation of government officials, will be in South Africa for a state visit at the invitation of President Nelson Mandela from 20 to 24 November 1995. The importance of the visit is related to the size of the Portuguese community resident in South Africa, as well as the historical ties between the two countries. The visit is regarded as an important step in the furthering of relations between South Africa and Portugal in all fields.
President Soares will be arriving in South Africa on 18 November for a private visit to a game reserve. The official part of the visit will commence on the morning of Monday, 20 November at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. President Soares will meet President Mandela for discussions on the same day. An official banquet will be held for President and Mrs Soares on Monday evening.
President Soares will be meeting members of the Portuguese communities in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban during his visit. Meetings with the leaders of the main political parties, and the Premiers of Gauteng, the Western Cape and Kwazulu-Natal have also been scheduled.
During his visit an Honorary Doctorate will be conferred on President Soares by the University of South Africa. Dr Soares will lay a wreath at the Bartholomeus Dias Monument in Cape Town, and visit the Dias Cross at Kwaaihoek, near Port Elizabeth. During his visit to Durban, President Soares will visit the Durban High School, which the great poet Fernando Pessoa attended in the beginning of the century. President Soares will depart to the Seychelles on 24 November 1995.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA, 13 NOVEMBER 1995