Joint press release following the 8th South Africa-Cuba Joint Consultative Mechanism 29 July 2010.  Deputy Minister of International Relations and cooperation, Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim, led the South African delegation to the 8th meeting of the South Africa-Cuba Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) held in Pretoria on 28 July 2010. The Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude to the government of Cuba for its participation in what is considered an important forum to exchange views on global issues. He further thanked the Cubans for their tremendous support for the government’s 5 key priorities, particularly in the area of health.

 PAN AFRICAN WOMEN’S DAY.  The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will host a Pan African Women’s Day under the theme “Working together for equal opportunities and progress for women: Forward to the African Women’s Decade 2010-2020”. Members of the Media are invited as follows:

President Jacob.G.Zuma  to pay an official visit to the Russian Federation. South African President Jacob.G.Zuma will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of President Dmitry Medvedev. Media is invited as follows:

For further information please contact Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Kgomotso Saul Molobi on 082 940 1647/molobis@dirco.gov.za

President Jacob Zuma conveys condolences following plane crash in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Jacob. G. Zuma, today, Thursday, 29 July 2010, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, extended heart-felt condolences to President Asif Ali Zardari and the Government and the people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan following a plane crash in Islamabad, in which all passengers on board died.

President Jacob Zuma’s Visit to Uganda and His Participation in the 15th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU – 24-27 July 2010.  President Zuma used the occasion of his address to the Summit to convey the Government and the People of South Africa’s condolences to the Ugandan Government for the recent twin bombings that happened on the evening of July 11th, 2010 when soccer fans were watching the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Kampala.

South African intervention at the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee: July 24, 2010 (Kampala). Let me begin by the thanking the Ugandan Government for the excellent and warm hospitality extended to my delegation since our arrival in this country and beautiful resort. Every time I have been to this country, I am touched by the friendliness of the Ugandan people and their humility.

President Jacob Zuma attends the 15th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union – Uganda (Kampala) 24-27 July 2010. Kampala (Uganda): The President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma arrived in Uganda this morning to participate in the 15th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government (HoSG) of the African Union starting today July 24 until July 27, 2010. This African Union Summit is taking place under the theme of “Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa” in view of the critical importance of the 4th and 5th Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), due to be reviewed later this September at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The South African Government Statement on Developments in Israel.  On 3 June 2010, the South African Government decided to recall our Ambassador to Israel, Mr Ismail Coovadia, to South Africa for consultations. This followed the Israeli military attack on 31 May 2010, in international waters, on a Turkish ship attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, which resulted in the loss of 9 Turkish lives.

Statement by H.E. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa During the Security Council Debate on,“Optimizing the Use of Preventive Diplomacy Tools : Prospects and Challenges in Africa”, New York, 16 July 2010. South Africa would like to thank you Ms President for inviting us to this very important debate on “Optimising the use of Preventive diplomacy”. The topic you have chosen relates directly to the decision of the African Union Assembly to proclaim 2010 as the Year of Peace and Security in Africa.

Remarks by Ambassador Brooke D. Anderson, U.S. Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs, at a General Assembly Meeting to Celebrate Nelson Mandela International Day, July 16, 2010. Good morning.  It’s a great honor to be here today to offer a few words about what Nelson Mandela means to my country and to people everywhere.

Concluding Remarks by President Jacob Zuma SACU Summit, Pretoria
16 July 2010. May I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Heads of State and Government for availing themselves to attend this very important meeting on the future direction of SACU.

Opening Remarks by His Excellency Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa at the Heads of State and Government Meeting of the Southern African Customs Union Countries.

1. May I take this opportunity to welcome Your Excellencies, the SACU Heads of State and Government, and your delegations to this meeting of the SACU Heads of State and Government. It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to preside over this meeting, focussing on providing strategic direction to our Organisation. Let me also take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude, to you all, for having found time in your busy schedules to be here today. This is testimony to the importance we all attach to this Organisation and its continued good standing as a leading regional organisation.

COMMUNIQUÉ - The Heads of State and Government meeting of the Member States of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), 16 July 2010

Adopted on Friday, 16 July 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa

1. The Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) met on the 15th and 16th July 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa, to reflect on the achievements and challenges, as well as to deliberate on the future strategic direction of SACU, in view of recent regional and global developments.
   

President Jacob G. Zuma to host the SACU Summit, 15-16 July 2010, Pretoria.The President of the Republic, H.E. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma will host the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit of Heads of State and Government from 15 to 16 July 2010 at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. It should be noted that the Republic of South Africa is assuming the Chair of SACU, and the decision to convene this Summit was taken in April this year during the centenary celebrations of SACU’s existence in Windhoek, Namibia.

[Media Programme]