/ 19 September 2005

Dlamini-Zuma signs accord with Argentina

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has signed an accord with Argentina to regulate political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.

She signed the Joint South African-Argentina Binational Commission Agreement with her Argentinian counterpart Rafael Bielsa on Sunday in New York, where she heads the South African delegation at the United Nations 60th General Assembly.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said Dlamini-Zuma had also represented South Africa on Sunday at Non-Aligned Movement ministerial discussions on Palestine with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

She would hold bilateral discussions on Monday with her counterparts from Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Algeria.

Dlamini-Zuma would then attend a trilateral meeting between South Africa, Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), hosted by the UN Undersecretary-General of Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno.

Mamoepa said she would go on to lead the South African government delegation to the Non-Aligned Movement troika ministerial meeting.

This would consist of the present chair (South Africa), the former chair (Malaysia) and incoming chair (Cuba), with the European Union Troika comprising the United Kingdom, Austria and the European Union Commission. – Sapa