President Thabo Mbeki is expected back home on Wednesday in time for the presentation of the 2003/4 Budget in Parliament after taking part in the Franco-African summit in Paris and a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kuala Lumpur.
Mbeki led the South African delegation to both summits, the highlight of which was his handing over of South Africa’s chairmanship of the NAM to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was left behind with the South African team at the NAM meeting which is scheduled to wind its business with the adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration.
Foreign Affairs representative Nomfanelo Kota said in a statement Dlamini-Zuma was expected to return home on Thursday after holding a series of bilateral meetings with various other foreign ministers.
The Franco-Africa Summit discussed ongoing efforts to avert a United States-led war against Iraq, the partnership between France and African countries within the context of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), as well conflict resolution, terrorism and crime.
The NAM Summit on the other hand discussed the revitalisation of the movement so it could face challenges of the 21st century including poverty and under-development, Kota said. – Sapa