20 December 2004

Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has concluded a two-day visit to Swaziland where she and her counterpart, Senator Mabili Dlamini, launched a joint bilateral commission for co-operation between the two countries.

Dlamini-Zuma also paid a courtesy call on the country's prime minister, Absalom Themba Dlamini.

Dlamini-Zuma and Dlamini discussed bilateral relations between South Africa and Swaziland, Swaziland's constitution-making process and judicial situation, and the work of the African Union, Nepad and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Dlamini-Zuma will chair a meeting of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the foreign ministers of Namibia and Lesotho would also attend the meeting.

Dlamini-Zuma's delegation will include Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and senior officials from the foreign affairs and defence departments.

Issues on the agenda will include the operationalisation of an early warning centre; the operationalisation of the African Standby Force, with particular reference to the SADC Regional Brigade; progress with the regional peacekeeping centre; and preparations for elections in the region.

Source: BuaNews

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	Department of Foreign Affairs  African Union  Nepad