4 October 2002
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, met with Minister Patrick ACHI, Minister of Economic Infrastructure and Spokesperson of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire in Pretoria on Thursday 3 October 2002.
Minister Achi was on a brief visit to South Africa in the capacity of Special Envoy of President Gbagbo to deliver a message to the South African Government.
During his discussions with Deputy Minister Pahad, Minister Achi briefed the Deputy Minister on the situation in the Cote d'Ivoire since the armed rebellion began in that country on 19 September 2002.
The Minister thanked South Africa for its interest in the situation in Cote d'Ivoire, and for the support demonstrated by President Mbeki in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union, as was evidenced by the President's presence at the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit that took place in Accra on Sunday 29 September 2002.
Deputy Minister Pahad expressed the deep concern of the South African Government at the continuing armed rebellion and at the fact that those who were fighting the government of Cote d'Ivoire were seemingly well-armed by un-identified sources. In this context, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed the support of the South African Government for the African Union principle that condemns all actions aimed at effecting unconstitutional changes of government in any African country.
The Deputy Minister conveyed South Africa's full support for the ECOWAS mediation initiative that was agreed upon in Accra. In this regard the Deputy Minister confirmed that South Africa would be liaising with the ECOWAS mediation team through its Embassy in Abidjan that will fulfill the role of special representative of the Chairman of the AU.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
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