Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON FOREIGN MINISTER NZO'S ATTENDANCE OF THE OAU MEETING IN LIBYA
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo departs for Libya today, leading the South African delegation to the Organization of African Unity's (OAU) bi-annual Council of Ministers meeting in Libya next week. The meeting will be hosted by Libya and will take place in Tripoli.
The main focus of the meeting will be the OAU budget for the next financial year and to consider various reports by the Secretary General, Dr Ahmed Salim Ahmed.
Minister Nzo will be briefing his colleagues on the latest South African involvement with initiatives and developments regarding the Great Lakes region and Zaire. He will also be discussing various initiatives to restructure the OAU Secretariat to execute its new responsibilities in a changed world order and to strengthen its hand with regard to financial management.
Another priority for the OAU is to bring into full operation the OAU's Conflict Management Centre (CMC). South Africa recently assisted the CMC to upgrade its new computer network by making available a South African computer expert. The ultimate goal is to bring electronic communication between the OAU, the United Nations and member countries up to standard in order for it to answer to the pressing demands, particularly with respect to conflict prevention and resolution on the African Continent. In the near future, the Department of Foreign Affairs will also be facilitating a requirement analyses for the Conflict Management Centre.
As a further indication of South Africa's commitment to conflict resolution, Mr Nzo will also announce South Africa's voluntary contribution of R1,6 million to the OAU Peace Fund.
As Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers, Mr Nzo will convey to the OAU meeting SADC's position regarding implementation of the Abuja Treaty, which makes provision for the establishment of an African Economic Community (AEC). Although South Africa is yet to sign this treaty, it is already participating in the evolution of this vision within the framework of its membership of SADC. It is envisaged that South Africa will sign the Treaty during this year.
Minister Nzo will also take the opportunity to brief his OAU colleagues on South Africa's decision to ban anti-personnel landmines, following the announcement in this regard by Defence Minister Modise on 20 February 1997.
Other subjects to be discussed are the peace processes in Angola and the Middle East, as well as the demobilisation processes in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Somalia and the sanctions against Libya are also on the agenda. The meeting will further consider the draft protocol on the establishment of an African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights and the interim reports on the activities of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and of the Committee of Twenty on Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons.
Mr Nzo will return to South Africa on 1 March.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 21 FEBRUARY 1997