Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE STUDY OF THE REVIEW AND RATIONALISATION OF THE SADC PROGRAMME OF ACTION
The Department of Foreign Affairs will host a two-day workshop to discuss the reports by regional Consultants on the study into the Review and Rationalisation of the SADC Programme of Action. The "NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE STUDY ON THE REVIEW AND RATIONALISATION OF THE SADC PROGRAMME OF ACTION" will take place from 24 - 25 July 1997 at the CSIR Conference Centre in Pretoria.
The main objective of this national workshop will be to develop and formulate South Africa's response to these reports as well as preparation for further regional workshops.
This workshop is in accordance with a decision of the SADC Council of Ministers' meeting. As SADC has called for the involvement and the full participation of non-governmental, community-based organisations and the private sector, this workshop will enjoy broad participation by South African stakeholders. This would further stimulate the on-going discussion regarding the envisaged economic and political integration of the region, as well as disseminating general information about SADC and her goals and objectives.
The format of the workshop would include plenary sessions, presentations of papers by South African experts, as well as discussions in five working groups, namely:
- SADC policy and strategy review,
- SADC sectoral review,
- SADC institutional review,
- SADC project review and
- implementation review.
An official opening by Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Alfred Nzo will take place on 24 July 1997 at 19h30. The following day the Deputy Minister, Mr Aziz Pahad will close the Workshop at 15h00.
A plenary session, to introduce the topic of the Workshop will take place, at which different papers are presented. On the final day of the Workshop the report back by rapporteurs on the outcome of the deliberations in their groups will also take place in plenary.
There will be a briefing to interested representatives from the media immediately after the end of the conference at 15h00 on 25 July 1997.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 23 JULY 1997