Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, DR FRENE GINWALA's VISIT TO ROME : 23 - 24 NOVEMBER 1998
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Frene Ginwala, is on an official visit to Italy from 23 - 24 November 1998, at the invitation of the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Luciano Violante.
The visit will provide an opportunity to enhance the dialogue between the Parliaments of Italy and South Africa to undertake common initiatives to promote parliamentary cooperation and a better mutual understanding of institutions, and to initiate discussions to develop closer cooperation between African and Mediterranean Parliaments against the backdrop of the existing cooperation among the Parliaments that take part in the Euro-Mediterranean initiative.
Dr Ginwala will be meeting with her counterpart, Hon. Luciano Violante, to discuss, among other, the importance of bilateral relations from a parliamentary perspective and the strengthening of relations between the various Parliamentary Committees, the Deputies, and the Officers of Parliament. The Speaker will also meet with Hon. Dr Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, President of the Italian Republic and have meetings with Senator Gian Giacomo Migone, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Standing Committee of the Senate, the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Senator Domenico Fisichella, and the Bilateral Friendship Section Italy - South Africa of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
The Speaker will be accompanied by:
- Ms Lindiwe Ngwane : MP (African National Congress) - Mr Andre Fourie : MP (National Party) - Mr J H van der Merwe : MP (Inkatha Freedom Party) - Mr Peter Lebeko : Clerk of the Papers (staff member)
The delegation will also attend a presentation of a book titled, "Il Sud Africa di Nelson Mandela" (Nelson Mandela's South Africa) written by Antonio Rubbi, in the presence of the Head of State, Hon. Dr Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY IN ROME.
23 NOVEMBER 1998