Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The South African Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, in conjunction with the Sheraton Ankara Hotel and Towers, the Ceylan Inter-Continental Hotel in Istanbul, the South African Tourism Board (SATOUR) and Turkish Airlines will present a South African Week at the two hotels from 9-15 March 1998.
Guests at the hotels will be able to sample South African dishes, such as ostrich fillet, crocodile tail, snoek and bobotie prepared by chefs from South Africa, and wine, while being entertained the world renowned musical group, Thula Sizwe - The Group Zulu.
In conjunction with the South Africa Week tourism seminars for the travel industry and a trade promotion for Turkish businessmen will be held. SATOUR and the Turkish Foreign Relations Board (DEIK) will join the Embassy in these endeavours.
The South African Week coincides with the establishment of the South African Chapter of the Turkish/South African Business Council under the chairmanship of Dr Piet Haasbroek of Barlows. The Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI) will provide secretarial services for the Chapter.
During the Week, Dr Greg Mills, National Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs will address groups at universities and other fora in both Istanbul and Ankara on South Africa's international relations with specific reference to Africa and progress on transforming South Africa since 1994.
The South Africa Week comes shortly after the visit of the Turkish Deputy Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Murat Sungar, to South Africa, during which an air services agreement between South African and Turkey was signed and ways of further strengthening relations between the two countries were discussed.
I promises to raise the profile of South Africa as a desirable, inexpensive and exotic tourist destination, a reliable trade and investment partner and a country with which Turkey, a country similar in many ways to South Africa, wishes to develop its relations in all fields.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY IN ANKARA, TURKEY. PRETORIA 9 MARCH 1998