Issued by: Ministry for Welfare and Population Development
28 June 2000
The National Minister for Welfare Population and Development, Dr. ZST Skweyiya has called for closer regional cooperation among the developing countries in fighting poverty; creating employment and advancing social integration and development.
"The world in general and the poor countries in particular can only succeed when they unite their resources and acting together in fighting HIV/AIDS, promoting social integration and enhancing social development in general" said the Minister.
Minister Skweyiya, who is also the Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Social Development, said this when addressing the International Council on Social Welfare meeting in Geneva today.
The Council meeting is part of the many activities of the Special Session on Social Development held under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly, which is attended by more than 100 countries and a myriad of Non Government Organisation from across the globe.
The Special Session was opened by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday 26th June 2000 and includes among others heads of states and governments, representatives of the United Nations and other multilateral bodies, regional representatives, Ministers and diplomats from all over the world.
South African delegation was led by the Deputy President Mr. Jacob Zuma and also includes Dr. Skweyiya, Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlane, The Speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala; the NGO's as well as MEC's.
The Deputy President addressed the opening of the session on Monday and called on the countries of the world particularly the developing countries to work together and very hard in making sure that the gains made at Beijing on Women and those made in 1995 in of Copenhagen on Social Development, not to be eroded but rather consolidated and implemented even more vigorously.
The SA delegation held a historic bilateral meeting with China in which there was agreement to strengthen ties on social, economic and other spheres.
Meanwhile, Minister Skweyiya also held bilateral meetings with Canada, Denmark and Germany. The Danish government committed itself to work closely with the SA government on programmes to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge among others whilst the Canadian government committed itself to work more on youth related programmes.
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