9 February 2000
The Prime Minister of Norway, Mr Kjell Magne Bondevik, will be visiting South Africa from 10 to 14 February 2000 as part of a three nation African tour. Prime Minister Bondevik will be accompanied by the Norwegian Minister for International Development and Human Rights, Ms Hilde Frafjord-Johnson, and the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Ms H Berg , as well as a other members of the Norwegian government and senior officials.
Prime Minister Bondevik and his delegation will be holding bilateral discussions with President Mbeki in Pretoria and Deputy President Zuma in Durban. The discussions will centre around the strengthening of political consultations and the focussed expanding of economic ties; an exchange of views of the current situation in Africa and the African Renaissance; conflict resolution in Africa; international matters of mutual interest such as human rights and the reduction of small arms. The discussions are to further deepen the excellent relations which exist between South Africa and Norway.
The Prime Minister, his delegation and the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Valli Moosa, will attend a signing ceremony of a "Letter of Intent for the Environmental Cooperation Programme" between Norway and South Africa.
On Friday, 12 February Prime Minister Bondevik, Minister Frafjord-Johnson and the Minister of Housing, Ms Mthembi-Mahanyele will attend the opening ceremony of a 500 unit housing project in central Johannesburg which was supported by NORAD.
The Prime Minister, his delegation and the Secretary of Defence, Mr JB Masilela, will attend a signing ceremony for "An Arrangement concerning Norwegian Support for the Destruction of Surplus and Redundant Small Arms of the South African National Defence Force".
The Prime Minister will also officially open the Norwegian embassy chancery in Pretoria on Friday the 11th of February 2000.
A "South African – Norway" business seminar will be held in Sandton and will be attended by over 70 members of a Norwegian business delegation which will be accompanying the Prime Minister. The seminar will comprise of several workshops i.e. "Market Information South Africa", "Emerging Power Markets in Southern Africa", "Registers", "Water Supply and Sanitation" and "Telecommunication". During the seminar luncheon the participants will be addressed by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister, his delegation and Deputy President Zuma will attend a church service by Bishop L Sibiya at an Umpumulo Lutheran Church on Sunday. The Prime Minister will also visit various Norwegian Missionary church sites before visiting Eshowe.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs AND THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY
Pretoria
09 FEBRUARY 2000