The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, will be paying an official visit to the Nordic countries from 11 to 15 May 2000. South Africa’s relations with the Nordic countries have been very dynamic over the past six years based on the invaluable support which was given to South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle. Support by the various Nordic countries for the development of a strong democracy in South Africa since 1994 has been constant. The special relationships which South Africa has with the Nordic countries have continued to develop, based on common principles such as human rights, democracy and support for the African Renaissance.
Minister Dlamini-Zuma will be holding discussions with her counterparts and other cabinet ministers to discuss matters of bilateral interest, development in Southern Africa and the rest of the African continent, as well as the international issues of mutual concern. The Minister will also discuss the preparations for the South Africa – Nordic Summit which will take place 7 June 2000 between President Mbeki and the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, in Skagen, Denmark, on 8 June 2000.
The Minister will start her visit in Sweden on 11 May 2000 where she will be an official guest of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Ms Anna Lindh. The discussions will mainly focus on the bilateral matters with the emphasis on proposals to create an appropriate mechanism, to further strengthen the existing sound relationship between the two countries.
The Minister will visit Finland on 12 May 2000 where she will meet the new Finnish Foreign Minister, Mr Erkki Tuomioja. In addition she will meet with the Minister for the Environment with responsibility for International Development Co-operation, Ms Satu Hassi. The focus of the meetings will be on bilateral relations as well as multilateral co-operation.
A meeting of the four South African Ambassadors in the Nordic region will take place in Copenhagen on 13 May 2000 and will be chaired by the Minister. The meeting will be an opportunity for the Minister to brief the Ambassadors on developments in South Africa and the region and to co-ordinate the strengthening of South Africa’s ties with the Nordic countries with particular emphasis on the Nordic-South African Summit in June 2000.
The Minister will hold a meeting with the Danish Minister for Development Co-operation, Mr Jan Trojborg, on 15 May 2000. The discussions will focus on bilateral relations, particularly the economic and development co-operation aspects. Minister Trojborg will be visiting South Africa from 17 to 23 June 2000 where he will attend the Southern Africa Economic Summit 2000 in Durban and inaugurate the "South African – Danish Business and Investment Seminar" in Pretoria.
Enquiries : Daniel Ngwepe
Cell Phone : 082 858 0295
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
PRIVATE BAG X152
Pretoria
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10 MAY 2000