Issued by: SA Communication Service
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER
PRESS STATEMENT
The President of the European Parliament, Mr Klaus Hansch, will visit South Africa from 5 - 10 February, at the invitation of the Speaker, President Hansch will be a special guest at President Mandela's address to Parliament on 9 February. This will be his first official visit outside Europe since taking office in July 1994. He has been a Member of the European Parliament since 1979.
President Hansch's visit will serve to strengthen links between the South African and European Parliaments, and an agreement on closer cooperation between the two Parliaments will be signed.
President Hansch will address a meeting of Parliamentarians and members of the public on the "New Challenges for South Africa and Europe" in the Old Assembly Chamber.
During the visit he will be meeting President Mandela. Other meetings will be held with Parliamentary Office-bearers and Whips. Discussions at the Meetings scheduled will focus on areas of trade and development between South Africa and Europe. A copy of the programme for President Hansch's visit is attached. Further meetings have yet to be arranged.
Whilst in Gauteng, President Hansch will be hosted by the Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature, Mr Trevor Fowler.
2 February 1996
Enquiries: Lawson Naidoo (021) 403 2588