Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
8 June 2002
President and Mrs Thabo Mbeki and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will arrive in Rome, today, Sunday 9th June 2002 ahead of the World Food Summit and the NEPAD Implementation Committee Meeting, 10th-13th June 2002.
The President's delegation includes the Minister of Land Affairs and Agriculture, Thoko Didiza and the President's Economic Advisor Prof. Wiseman Nkhuhlu.
The Summit will be addressed by President Ciampi of Italy; Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan; prime Minister Bellusconi of Italy; of the FAO Council, Ambassador A Nekouar; and Chairman of the FAO Committee on Security, Col Rossi.
President Mbeki will deliver a keynote address to delegates at the Summit on Monday, 10th June 2002.
The Summit will focus on reviewing advances made since the 1996 World Food Summit; outlining measures that leaders now envisage to reach the 1996 targets as well as the mobilisation of the requisite political will and resources to move forward at an accelerated pace to achieve the 1996 targets.
South Africa, among others, is expected to:
During the Summit, President Mbeki will have an opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr M Zenawi.
On Tuesday, the President will interact with other heads of state from the five OAU regions at the NEPAD Implementation Committee Meeting chaired by President Olusegun OBasanjo, in preparation for the forthcoming G8 meeting scheduled for Canada on 27 June.
The NEPAD Implementation Committee Meeting will be attended by Heads of State from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Rwanda, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Zambia.
For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at:
+ 27-82-990-4853