Issued by: SA Communication Service
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR PRESIDENT MANDELA'S STATE VISITS TO SOUTH EAST ASIA: 1 - 11 MARCH 1997
1. As you are aware President Mandela will be paying State visits to the following countries: the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia from 1-11 March 1997.
2. For those members of the media who are interested in covering these visits we wish to advise that they would need to comply with the following formalities:
(i) Entry requirements
All journalists are required to apply for visas for all four countries to be visited. To facilitate matters the Department of Foreign Affairs will liaise with the Embassies and High Commissions in question, on behalf of the media. To this end, it would be appreciated if those interested in covering the visit complete the appropriate application forms (to be obtained directly from the relevant Foreign Missions) and return these, together with valid passports, to the Media Section at the Department of Foreign Affairs, for the attention of Marco Boni at Room 204, East Wing, Union Buildings, Pretoria
The addresses of these Missions are as follows:
Embassy of the Philippines 1st Floor Southern Life Plaza Cnr Schoeman and Festival Streets Hatfield Tel: 012-3426920
High Commission of Singapore 173 Beckett Street Arcadia Tel: 012-3434371
High Commission of Malaysia 950 Pretorius Street Arcadia Tel: 012-3425990
In the case of Brunei the Department of Foreign Affairs will endeavour to assist by arranging visas on arrival as there are no resident missions in neither of our two capitals.
(ii) Accreditation
Only media accredited by the various Foreign Ministries will be allowed to cover the visit. In order to secure the necessary press accreditation journalists are requested to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs with two passport size photographs of themselves for each leg of the visit. These should please be included with their passports and completed visa forms.
(iii) Carnet Requirements
Journalists are requested to furnish the Department of Foreign Affairs with a detailed list of all media equipment they intend using on the visit. This will then be conveyed to the respective Governments for registration. This information should please accompany the documentation requested in (i) and (ii) above.
3. Hotel accommodation
Our various Missions in the region have provided the following information on appropriate hotels in the cities to be visited:
Manila: Single room will cost approximately US$ 150
Brunei: Single room will cost approximately US$ 150
Singapore: Single room will cost approximately US$ 150
Kuala Lumpur: Single room will cost approximately US$ 110
Depending on the response received to cover this visit the Department of Foreign Affairs will negotiate a group booking rate for interested journalists. This will not only help secure reasonable rates but it will also help with the logistical arrangements during the trip. Journalists should please indicate whether they would be interested in forming part of the group.
4. Flight information
A suggested flight itinerary would include flying from Johannesburg to Manila, via Singapore, on the first let. Thereafter, there is a Philippines Airlines flight to Bandar Seri. From Bandar Seri there is a Royal Brunei Airlines flight to Singapore, whereafter there are Singapore Airlines or Malaysian Airlines flights to Kuala Lumpur.
5. Proposed presidential programme (This is strictly for your information only and not, repeat not, for publication)
28 February 1997 14h00 Departure of President and delegation form Ysterplaat Airforce Base, Cape Town (Private flight)
1 March 1997 09h00 Arrival of President and delegation at Villamor airbase in Manila, Philippines
am Meeting with President Ramos followed by bilateral talks and the signing of intergovernmental agreements at Malacanang Palace
Press conference
pm Meeting with President of the Senate Mr Ernesto Maceda and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Jose de Venecia
Meeting with Mrs Corazon Aquino, former President of the Philippines
State Banquet at Malacanang Palace
2 March 1997 am Wreath laying ceremony at Rizal Monument University of the Philippines to confer honorary degree on President President to deliver keynote address at Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mkati Club luncheon
3 March 1997 am Laying of wreath at the Ninoy Aquino marker, to be accompanied by Mrs C Aquino Departure for Brunei Darussalam Meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam Bilateral discussions pm State Banquet
4 March 1997 Brunei
5 March 1997 am Departure for Singapore 19h00 Arrive in Singapore Meeting with Mr Ong Teng Cheong, President of Singapore pm Visit of the National orchid Gardens and naming of an orchid by the President State banquet
6 March 1997 am President to deliver 16th Singapore Lecture pm Meeting with former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew Dinner with Mr Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of Singapore
7 March 1997 am Breakfast meeting with business leaders followed by press conference 09h00 Leave for Kuala Lumpur 09h45 Arrive Kuala Lumpur pm Meeting with Mr Dato Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamed, Prime Minister of Malaysia Bilateral discussions and signing of agreements Media opportunity Audience with Their Majesties the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong pm State banquet
8 march 1997 am Visit of Proton automobile plant pm Leave for Langkawi Island on private visit
9 March 1997 Private visit
10 March 1997 am Arrival in Kuala Lumpur from Langkawi Island President to deliver keynote address at seminar organised by the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and the South African/Malaysian Business Forum Meeting with Dato Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia pm President to deliver keynote address at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations
11 March 1997 am Meeting with Sultan of Perak Farewell meeting with Prime Minister of Malaysia Farewell audience with His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong 11h00 Departure for South Africa 21h00 Arrival Ysterplaat Airforce Base, Cape Town
Please note that this is a draft programme and is therefore subject to change.
6. The Department of Trade and Industry is arranging a programme for a thirty-strong South African business delegation, to be led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Phumizile Mlambo-Ngcuka, to accompany the President. For details of this programme please contact Matthew Stern at DTI on 012-3109395.
7. In order to react timeously and to avoid disappointment, interested journalists are urged to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs with an initial indication by 15 February 1997 as to whether they wish to cover the visit. Furthermore, as time is against us, those interested should please provide the Department with all the information and documentation mentioned in paragraphs 2(i), (ii) and (iii) above, on or before 19 February 1997.
8. All enquiries relating to this visit should please be directed to Marco Boni on 012-3510128 or 083-2608734 or fax 012-3510260.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 12 FEBRUARY 1997