South African Foreign Minister to make official visit to Moscow

On Thursday South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma arrives in Moscow on an official visit. South African ambassador to Moscow Mochubela Jacob Sekou reported that the South African Foreign Minister would deliver to Russian President Vladimir Putin a message from the president of his country, Thabo Mbeki.

The working schedule of Dlamini-Zuma's visit starts on Friday by negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. The official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Minister told RIA Novosti that the negotiations would focus on the basic trends in the world in the context of global challenges and threats. The two ministers will discuss the fight against international terrorism, the establishment of a global security and cooperation system and the provision of strategic stability in the world.

Settlement of regional conflicts--the situation in the Middle east, in Afghanistan, around Iraq and the Indo-Pakistani conflict--will be a priority. The sides will also consider the task of enhancing the role of international organisations, primarily that of the UN.

The Ministers plan to analyse problems of securing a sustainable development of African countries, the struggle against poverty and prospects for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development /NEPAD/ programme.