Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON VISIT TO UKRAINE BY FOREIGN MINISTER ALFRED NZO, 28 - 30 AUGUST 1997.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alfred Nzo, will be paying an official working visit to Ukraine from 28 to 30 August 1997. The Minister will be accompanied by senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The visit is at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr G Udovenko, with whom Minister Nzo will have bilateral discussions. Minister Nzo is also expected to meet with the President of Ukraine, Mr L Kuchma and Prime Minister V Pustovoitenko. Mr Pustovoitenko was in South Africa as a guest of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki in November 1996 and also met with Minister Nzo during that visit.
During the apartheid era, Ukraine was actively involved in providing assistance to the anti-apartheid struggle, which included educational opportunities for people in exile. Minister Joe Modise, inter alia, studied in Kiev.
South Africa regards Ukraine as an important country in Central Europe, due to her geo-strategic position in that region. Current two-way trade with Ukraine, which began in 1994, totals US$21,384,817 of which exports from South Africa are US$9,826,061 and imports to US$11,558,756.
Imports from Ukraine include, machinery, electrical equipment, aircraft, and transport equipment. South Africa's exports to Ukraine include base metals, electrical equipment, chemical products, fruits, wine, vegetables, and leather goods.
The visit of Minister Nzo is a manifestation of the growing relationship between South Africa and Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 27 AUGUST 1997