Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma departs for New York

9 September 2005

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma departs for the United States today, to attend two United Nations (UN) summits in New York next week.

The Review Summit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the 60^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) are taking place from 14-16 September and 17-28 September respectively.

During her visit to New York, Dr Dlamini Zuma is expected to participate in ministerial negotiations aimed at finalising the draft outcomes document to be considered by Heads of State and Government at the High Level Review Summit of the MDGs, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The High Level Review Summit will consider progress towards achieving the MDGs as outlined in the Millennium Summit of 2000, which include among others halving extreme poverty, reducing infant mortality by two-thirds and achieving universal primary education by 2015.

According to the MDG country report released earlier this month by government's Social Sector Cluster, South Africa is well on course to meet all MDGs and targets ahead of the 2015 deadline.

The Summit will also consider recommendations, to be finalised by foreign ministers, on the comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the UN Security Council and international financial institutions.

African leaders have endorsed the Ezulwini Consensus, which proposes two permanent and five non-permanent seats for Africa in the reformed United Security Council (UNSC).

It also proposes that the two permanent seats must have all the privileges, including veto rights.

"UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan requested a group of 32 countries, including South Africa, to look into different aspects of the reform package with the objective of facilitating speedy negotiations and outcomes in time for consideration by the Heads of State and Government during the UN Summit," the foreign affairs department said.

The UN Summit will mark the 60th anniversary of the UN and is expected to draw the largest number of Heads of State and Government ever.President Thabo Mbeki is expected to depart for New York on Monday. - BuaNews