Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE STATE VISIT OF PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI OF FINLAND
President Martti Ahtisaari, accompanied by Mrs Eva Ahtisaari, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms T K Halonen, and the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr M I Aura and a high profile Business Delegation, will be paying a State Visit to South Africa from 12 to 16 May 1997. President Ahtisaari has been invited to visit South Africa by President Nelson Mandela.
The visit will serve to further strengthen the cordial and sound relations which exist between Finland and South Africa and to build upon the Finnish support which was rendered in the struggle for democracy.
During the State Visit President Ahtisaari will meet with President N R Mandela, Executive Deputy President T Mbeki, the Speaker, Dr F Ginwala, the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Prof K Ashmal, the Minister, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr M G Buthelezi, the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr H Kriel, the Premier of Gauteng, Mr T Sexwale, and leader of the National Party, Mr F W de Klerk. President Ahtisaari will also visit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Robben Island, the National Zoological Gardens and will attend a Business Forum and have other appointments with the business community in Gauteng.
Mrs Ahtisaari will be visiting Robben Island, the University of Cape Town, the Red Cross Children's Hospital and the Advisory Office of the Black Sash in Cape Town and Winterveld in the North West Province.
Foreign Minister Halonen will hold bilateral discussions with her South African counterpart, Mr A B Nzo, and will have meetings with the Minister of Justice, Mr A M Omar, and members of the Constitutional Court, the Foreign Affairs Portfolio Committee, the Human Rights Commission and the Gender Commission.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 9 MAY 1997