"South Africa will continue to vigorously pursue the agenda for peace and conflict resolution on our continent", Deputy Foreign Minister Pahad said in Pretoria today.
Deputy Foreign Minister Pahad said this before leaving for Algiers, where he will lead the South African delegation to the 70th Ordinary Session of the Organisation of African Unity Council of Ministers meeting, from 8-10 July 1999. Mr Pahad leads the South African delegation on behalf of Foreign Minister Nkosazana Zuma, who is currently involved in the DRC talks in Lusaka.
In addition to providing feedback on the DRC discussions in Lusaka, the Council of Ministers will also focus on the urgency of attempts to find a solution for the conflicts on the continent including Angola, Burundi, the Comoros, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Somalia and the signing and implementation of the proposed OAU Framework Agreement with regard to the escalating dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
South Africa will submit a proposal on ways to curb the illicit spread of small arms and light weapons to the Council of Ministers. This represents a continuation of South Africa's attempts to keep this issue on the African agenda in support of the process currently underway at the United Nations.
"The illegal spread of these weapons not only fuels violence and criminality but also impedes social upliftment and democratisation efforts on our continent", Deputy Minister Pahad said. This follows on the successful campaign to ban personnel landmines which the OAU enthusiastically endorsed. South Africa also recently participated in the drafting of an OAU Convention to prevent and control terrorism in Africa and it will seek to ensure that this draft text receives the necessary attention during the meeting.
Furthermore, South Africa will table a draft text on the African Process for the Development and Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment. The scourge of AIDS and joint partnerships to combat the epidemic will also form part of the South African delegation's agenda.
The Council of Ministers will also deal with structural reform of the OAU and the possible review of the OAU Charter.
The Council of Ministers will be followed by the 35th OAU Summit of Heads of State and Government from 12-14 July 1999, when President Thabo Mbeki will speak on globalisation and economic integration.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
7 JULY 1999