Somerset West Ministerial Communiqué, India – Brazil – South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, 11 May 2008. The Minister of External Affairs of India, H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Minister of External Relations of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Celso Amorim, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, met in Somerset West, South Africa on 11 May 2008 for the Fifth Meeting of the Trilateral Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum.

Remarks from India-Brazil-South Africa Ministerial Meeting, Lord Charles Hotel, Cape Town, Sunday 11 May 2008 - Closing Remarks by Ministers Dlamini Zuma, Pranab Mukherjee and Celso Amorim. Remarks by Minister Celso Amorim - Minister Dlamini Zuma, Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the environment of our meeting has been so fraternal, it has been so friendly that in truth it is really difficult to conclude.  What we can really say is that everything that has happened during the work that has been done today confirms the vision of a real strategic alliance, an alliance that has endeavoured for the progress of our peoples, the feeling that we really need to reaffirm our relationships, deepen our relationships with civil society, that the interventions that were done here particularly in the women, business and trade fora do confirm the interest that we would like to see reflected in all sectors of society.

Remarks from India-Brazil-South Africa Ministerial Meeting, Lord Charles Hotel, Cape Town, Sunday 11 May 2008 - Opening Remarks by Ministers Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Pranab Mukherjee and Celso Amorim. Remarks by Minister Dlamini Zuma - It gives me great pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the government and people of South Africa to the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the India – Brazil – South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue. Yesterday we also had the pleasure to welcome the leaders and officers of the joint naval exercises which was indeed very exciting and historical.

President Thabo Mbeki arrives in Harare. Harare- South African President Thabo Mbeki today, Friday 9 May 2008 arrived in Harare ahead of a scheduled interaction with the Zimbabwean political leadership within his mandate as the SADC Facilitator.

President Thabo Mbeki to visit Zimbabwe, Friday 9 May 2008. Pretoria – South African President Thabo Mbeki will tomorrow, Friday 9 May 2008 travel to Harare, Zimbabwe to interact with the Zimbabwean political leadership within the context of his mandate as SADC Facilitator.

President Thabo Mbeki congratulates Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Pretoria – South African President Thabo Mbeki today Thursday 8 May 2008 extended the heartfelt congratulations for the South African government and people to the newly appointed President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. In a message of support to President Medvedev, President Mbeki said, “Your Excellency, on behalf of our government and in my own name, I am pleased and privileged to congratulate you on your accession to the high position of President of the Russian Federation. We wish you success as you work to advance the interest of the sister people of Russia.”

Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma’s Remarks on the occasion of the Official Opening of the State Protocol Lounge, OR Tambo International Airport, 8 May 2008. It is indeed a privilege to be accorded the honour of officially opening this State Protocol Lounge located in an airport whose name, conjures memories of the great heroism of our people in the bitter struggle against apartheid –which the world had condemned as a heresy and a crime against humanity. Accordingly, as we officially open this State Protocol Lounge we must necessarily ask the question what Oliver Tambo, in whose name this international airport is appropriately named, would have said given the opportunity to open this facility?

South Africa extends condolences to Myanmar following Cyclone Disaster. Pretoria- The South African government joins the international community in extending its condolences to the people of Myanmar following the devastating cyclone over the weekend which resulted in over 20 000 people dead and destruction of property and infrastructure. In this regard, the South African government says “It is with a deep sense of regret that the government and people of South Africa learnt of the deaths of so many citizens of Myanmar as well as the destruction of property and infrastructure following the devastating trail of a cyclone.

President Thabo Mbeki Extends Condolences to South Sudan Following Plane crash. South African President Thabo Mbeki, today Monday 5 May 2008, telephonically extended South Africa’s condolences to Sudan’s First Vice President and President of South Sudan Salva Kirr, the government and people of South Sudan following a plane crash over the weekend in which 21 people died.

President Mbeki to pay State Visit to Qatar. South African President and Mrs Thabo Mbeki will on Monday 5 May 2008 depart for Doha, Qatar where he is scheduled to pay a State Visit from Tuesday – Wednesday 6-7 May 2008. President Thabo Mbeki’s delegation is expected to include, among others, Ministers Mosiuoa Lekota, Mandisi Mpahlwa, Buyelwa Sonjica, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and South Africa’s Ambassador to Qatar Vincent Zulu.

Minister Dlamini Zuma to lead South African Delegation to African Union Executive Council Meeting. South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will today Sunday 4 May 2008 depart for Arusha, Tanzania where she will lead a senior South African government delegation to a Meeting of the African Union Executive Council scheduled from Tuesday – Wednesday 6 -7 May 2008.

Statement by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Mr Aziz Pahad to the 8Tth IOR-ARC Meeting in Tehran, Iran on 4 May 2008. I wish to thank the Islamic Republic of Iran for the excellent hospitality  and organisation of this meeting. I wish to also congratulate Minister Motaki for his leadership of the IOR-ARC over the last three years.  Today there is a greater sense of the importance of the IOR-ARC and we have taken a more realistic approach to the opportunities and challenges we face in the IOR-ARC.

Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad to lead South African Delegation to IOR-ARC Meeting. South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will lead the South African government delegation to the 8th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) in Tehran, Iran scheduled from Sunday - Monday 4-5 May 2008.

Joint Communique issued at the Conclusion of the South Africa-Senegal, Joint Commission for Bilateral Co-operation, 30 April 2008. At the invitation of Her Excellency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency, Mr Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the Republic of Senegal undertook a Working Visit to South Africa on 30 April 2008. On this occasion, the two Ministers co-chaired the South Africa-Senegal Joint Commission for Bilateral Co-operation, provided for by the bilateral Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Co-operation signed in Dakar in 2004.

Postponement of Minister Nqakula Briefing on Burundi. Media briefing which was scheduled for later today by Minister Charles Nqakula has been postponed.  Minister Nqakula will be visiting Burundi on Monday.  He will conduct a briefing following his visit to Burundi.  Apologies for the inconvenience.

Minister Dlamini Zuma to Launch the South Africa – Senegal Joint Commission for Bilateral Co-Operation. South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will, host her Senegalese counterpart Foreign Minister Cheick Tidiane Gadio, for the inaugural launch of the South Africa – Senegal Joint Commission for Bilateral Commission at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday 30 April 2008.

[ Media Programme ]

Statement by Ambassador Abdul S Minty to the Second Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference, Geneva, 29 April 2008. I wish to congratulate you on your election as Chair of this Second Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference and to assure you of my delegation’s fullest support and co-operation during the course of deliberations. We also wish to thank the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ambassador Sergio Duarte, for his inspiring opening remarks and personal dedication to ensuring that our review cycle will successfully conclude in 2010.