Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE OCCASSION OF THE ANNUAL CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MR. SIPHO PITYANA AND THE FRENCH SECRETARY-GENERAL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MR. LOIC HENNEKINNE
The annual consultation between the South African Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Mr SM Pityana and his French counterpart, Mr L Hennekinne, is scheduled to take place on 23 October 2000 in Pretoria.
This consultation is conducted in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Forum for Political Dialogue that was signed on 9 October 1997, providing for annual consultations between senior officials.
The issues to be discussed will include the political, economic, multilateral co-operation focusing on French support for debt relief, reform of the international financial institutions, "North-South" co-operation in the context of the G8 and "South-South" relations, as well as the forthcoming visit of the French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin to South Africa from 25-27 January 2001.
The strategic partnership is seen within the broader African Global Strategy driven by President Thabo Mbeki.
France is a strategic partner of South Africa, especially within the EU context and the current French EU Presidency is of particular relevance for the EU/SADC Ministerial Conference to be held in Gaborone, Botswana in November 2000.
Following the Africa-Europe Summit under the aegis of OAU-EU in Cairo and the UN Millennium Summit in New York, it is appropriate to jointly focus on issues common `interest discussed at these fora.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT BASETSANA THOKOANE
OFFICE NO. (012) 351 0174
CELL NO. 083 443 7740
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
PRIVATE BAG X152
PRTORIA
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