President Nelson Mandela will be paying State Visits to Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden from 14 to 18 March 1999. He will visit Finland from 14 to 15 March 1999, Denmark from 15 to 16 March 1999, Norway from 16 to 17 March 1999, and Sweden from 17 to 18 March 1999.
During these visits he will meet with the Heads of State and of Government, as well as the leaders of the political, business and social sectors of these Nordic countries.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, King Harald V of Norway, and President Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, have each paid State Visits to South Africa since 1995. They have all issued invitations to President Mandela to visit their countries, not only to reciprocate, but also in recognition of the strong ties which exist between South Africa and the Nordic region. The Nordic countries have been firm supporters of South African democracy for more than three decades and their support and cooperation continues to grow. Since 1994 over R2 billion has been committed by Nordic development cooperation to South Africa and relations continue to be strengthened in the political, economic, social and cultural fields.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
11 FEBRUARY 1999