Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Igor Ivanov to receive Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Igor Ivanov will receive on Friday Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who arrived in Moscow yesterday on an official visit.

As Ambassador of South Africa to Moscow Mochubela Jacob Sekou told RIA Novosti, the Foreign Minister of South Africa brought to Moscow a personal message from her country's president Thabo Mbeki to Vladimir Putin.

In an interview with RIA Novosti spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Yakovenko said that the main tendencies in the world in the context of global challenges and threats would be considered at the talks. The Ministers will discuss the struggle against international terrorism, establishment of a new system of global security, and ensurance of strategic stability in the world.

Great attention will be paid to settlement of regional conflicts. The task of enhancing the role of the UN will be considered in the context of coordination of efforts to defuse these conflicts.

The Ministers are planning "to analyse the problems of ensuring stable development of African countries and of the struggle against poverty. In this connection, prospects for the fulfilment of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) programme which was backed by Russia in the course of the G-8 summit in Kananaskis will be discussed.

Issues related to transformation of the Organisation of African Unity into an African Union will figure prominently at the talks. The Ministers will also discuss ways to settle conflicts and crises on the African continent (Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and the African Corn).

The questions of bilateral relations, specifically in the trade-economic sphere, will also be touched upon.

It is planned that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will leave Moscow for St. Petersburg where she will stay till July 21st.