Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON VISIT OF EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO SOUTH AFRICA: 24 TO 26 AUGUST, 1997
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirms the visit of the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Mr Amre Moussa, accompanied by over 40 business persons, functionaries, media representatives and technical experts, from 24 to 26 August 1997. The purpose of the visit is to attend the second Ministerial Joint Bilateral Commission meeting, at the invitation of his South African counterpart, Minister Alfred Nzo. The discussions will be held at the Diplomatic Guest House in Pretoria.
During this Joint Commission meeting, five bilateral agreements will be signed by the two Ministers, namely:
- Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Tourism - Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology - Agreement on Cooperation in the fields of Art and Culture - Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion - Air Services Agreement
Commercial exchanges with Egypt have grown from R61 million before normalisation in 1994 to R410 million in 1996. There is extensive contact between these major African countries in agriculture, information, technology, parliamentary and provincial activities and of course in African multilateral political matters. Minister Moussa's visit will be the 18th ministerial visit by both sides since 1993.
Further activities of Minister Moussa will be an address to the South African Institute of International Affairs at Jan Smuts House on 25 August 1997, a working breakfast with the business community in Johannesburg on 26 August 1997 and meetings with representatives of the Reserve Bank and the Ministries of Trade and Finance. Minister Moussa has requested meetings with the Arab and African Heads of Mission in Pretoria, and will be giving interviews to the South African and Egyptian media.
Minister Moussa will be received by President Mandela on Tuesday 26 August 1997.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister will be visiting four other countries in the region before returning to Egypt.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 22 AUGUST 1997