President Thabo Mbeki departs for the United States today to attend the MDGs

12 September 2005

President Thabo Mbeki departs for the United States (US) today to attend the Review Summit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Wednesday until Friday.

Accompanied by First Lady Zanele and Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, President Mbeki will also attend the 60^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday to Wednesday.

Heads of State and Government will at the High Level Review Summit review progress made towards the MDGs as outlined in 2000.

These goals include halving extreme poverty, reducing infant mortality by two-thirds and achieving universal primary education by 2015.

"The summit will also consider a package of recommendations on the comprehensive reform of the United Nations including the Security Council and international finance institutions," said foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.

He explained the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had 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. - BuaNews