Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
14 May 2000
Minister of Foreign Affairs concludes her visit to the Scandinavian countries on Monday 15 May where she laid a firm foundation for President Thabo Mbeki to attend the Nordic Summit scheduled for early June.
In Sweden, the Minister held discussions on the need to strengthen and consolidated bilateral relations. In this regard, preparatory work for the establishment of a SA-Sweden Binational Commission has been finalised and will be submitted for ratification by the president and Prime Minister of South Africa and Sweden respectively.
The Minister briefed her Swedish counterpart on regional developments with specific reference to the situation in Zimbabwe. Minister Dlamini-Zuma reiterated South Africa's approach on the need for a speedy and amicable resolution of the land crisis in Zimbabwe. In this context, the Minister urged that Britain and the US should make funds available for the resolution of the land crisis. The Minister emphasised that South Africa, however, doesn't condone the breakdown of safety and security in Zimbabwe.
In Finland, the Minister made a courtesy call on President Tarja Halenen and held discussions with Foreign Minister Dr Erkki Themioja and Minister of Development and Co-operation, Ms Satu Hassi on regional development with a special focus on DRC and Sierra Leone. The Minister questioned the slow response of the Unite Nations Security Council to respond to conflicts in Africa while it seem easier to respond to conflicts elsewhere in the world. "The United Nations Security Council seem indifferent to conflicts in Africa. The matter must be confronted frankly and directly". The Minister indicated that although the Lusaka Agreement was finally signed in August 1999, the UN has yet to deploy the pacekeeping force and monitors to the DRC.
For her part Minister Satu Hassi committed Finland to funding and training of SMME's in South Africa and to increase development aid to 30 million Finnish Marks in the next ten years. In addition Minister Hassi also promised to look favourably into South Africa's request for additional funding for the World Conference on Racism. The Minister will arrive in London, UK on Tuesday 16 May ahead of President Thabo Mbeki's visit to discuss bilateral and regional issues.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at: 082-990-4853.