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Dfa Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma's Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma's September 2008 dfa NowYour voice to be heard MinisterMinister Dr Dr Nkosazana Nkosazana Dlamini Dlamini Zuma’s Zuma’s addressaddress toto thethe UNUN GeneralGeneral AssemblyAssembly Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma with UN Secretery-General Ban Ki-moon Editorial Note International Relations DEAR COLLEAGUES The dfa Now is an internal newsletter September was one of the most important months on the international dip- of the Department of Foreign Affairs lomatic calendar with the customary United Nations General Assembly Session published by the Directorate: taking place. Every year world leaders gather at the UN Headquarters to de- Content Development. bate and contemplate over the state of world affairs. This year specific focus was placed on climate change and development, both issues that are close to Editor-in-Chief: Ronnie Mamoepa South Africa’s heart. South Africa’s delegation was led by Minister Dr Nkosazana Editor: Paseka Mokhethea Dlamini Zuma and we include her Address to the 63rd Session as our lead story for this month. Compilation, Sub-Editing and Proofreading: In this edition we also cover the Minister’s visit to Cuba to attend the Region- Elion Von Wielligh and Annelie Kirstein al Heads of Mission Conference and her meeting with her Cuban counterpart as well as the media briefing by former Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad. Design and Layout: Shaune van Wyk, Zimele Ngxongo and September saw South Africans celebrate Heritage Day and this year the Kedibone Phiri focus was on South Africa’s dance heritage. We bring you an overview of the essence of Heritage Day celebrations and why it is important for us to celebrate Pictures: Jacoline Prinsloo, Sanjay and preserve our diverse cultures. Since the DFA is represented throughout the Singh and Unathi Ngamntwini world by our various missions, the dfa Now launched a feature article where we conduct interviews with various employees at missions to give us some insight The views expressed in this newsletter into life in a foreign country. This month we focus on Belguim. do not necessarily reflect those of the DFA or the editors. With summer all around we report back on the Winter Games and hope it will serve as motivation for more employees to get out there and participate in the The deadline for contributions is various sporting activities within the Department. 31 October 2008. Complimentary to an active body is an active mind, and the Directorate: Contributions may be sent to cbe000 or Generic Skills Development has a report from the Literacy Week that was held [email protected] in September in the Department. All enquiries: Paseka @ Tel: (012) 351-1569 Happy reading! Fax: (012) 342-1192 South African Ambassador presents his credentials The South African Ambassador to Germany, Mr SE Funde, presented his credentials to President Koehler on 27 August in Schloss Bellevue. He was accredited along with the ambassadors from Bahrain, Libia and Estonia. During his welcoming speech in the Embassy in Berlin, Mr Funde emphasised the importance of NEPAD, South Africa’s mission to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment, as well as the strengthening of South African-German partnerships. Ambassador Funde and German President Koehler. 2 DFA Now • September 2008 International Relations Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma’s address to the UN General Assembly My delegation and I join in expressing our congratulations to Your Excellency Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on your election as the President of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly, and hope you have a very successful and rewarding term at the helm of this body. We express our gratitude to His Excellency Dr Srgjan Kerim for the excellent work done during his tenure as the President of the 62nd Session of the General Assembly. Your Excellencies and Distinguished Despite the great strides it is clear Guests that many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa will not meet the Millennium De- Once again Mr President, we have velopment Goals. come to this august body to reiterate what we have always called for – “the Part of the reason is that the glo- need to implement all the promises bal partnership for development, on and all the pledges we have made be- which the achievement of the MDGs fore”. The focus of this the 63rd Ses- was also predicated, has not been sion of the General Assembly is on the fully implemented. That despite the global food crisis, climate change as various and lofty ideals we made at well as the reform of the UN. previous assemblies, we still fall short in meeting the commitments we made The confluence of the food, fuel in implementing this partnership – in and financial crisis as well as the particular, trade, aid and debt relief. effects of climate change pose a real threat of undermining the progress We express the fervent hope that made by developing countries in the the High-Level meetings organised by struggle against poverty and under- yourself, Mr President and the Secre- Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma development. tary-General on Africa’s development addressing the United Nations General needs, as well as on the MDGs, have Assembly, Monday 29 September 2008, New York. During the Millennium Summit served not only as important remind- Declaration held in 2000, our Heads ers of the challenges that we face, but the empowerment of women. Women of State and Government adopted as a catalyst to spur the world into a need to be at the centre of develop- a declaration that communicated a greater sense of urgency. ment as agents of change both social- message of hope and vision of a better ly, economically and politically. world, among which is an important The necessary resources exist in section on the Special Needs of the world to achieve the MDGs. We Mr President, bllions of the peoples Africa in which leaders declared that need to summon the necessary politi- of the world, that we are privileged to they “will spare no effort to promote cal will and compassion. We join the represent in this Assembly, have cast democracy and strengthen the rule sister countries of our continent in their eyes on this gathering of leaders. of law, as well as respect for all the calling for massive resource transfers They do so because they have hope internationally recognised human through development assistance, in- in this leadership to take the required rights and fundamental freedoms, vestment, trade, technology transfers measures in order to address poverty including the right of development” and human resource development. and underdevelopment. We dare not These will ensure that Africa achieves fail them. Africa and many other developing the development goals and success- countries have indeed taken respon- fully adapts to the devastating impact The food crisis has to be ad- sibility in promoting democracy, good of climate change. dressed in the short and medium term. governance, peace and stability and The Green Revolution that has been human rights. They are also hard at In order to accelerate the achieve- launched by the AU needs partner- work in rolling back the frontiers of ment of all the MDGs, a lot more atten- ships in order to succeed. Support for poverty and underdevelopment. tion needs to be focused on MDG 3 on Continue on pg 4... DFA Now • September 2008 3 International Relations South Africa commits itself to ap- as a young democracy. In this capacity Continue from pg 3... proach the preparations for Copenha- we were indeed honoured to contribute NEPAD will be a major contributor to gen constructively and with a view to meaningfully to global efforts to create the struggle against poverty and un- reaching an agreement that is ambi- peace and stability in all regions of the derdevelopment. tious, balanced and inclusive. world. Accordingly, we express the humble gratitude of the people of our In this context, allow me Mr Mr President, we join the many country to the general membership President, to quote from your statement leaders of the world who have ex- of the UN for the trust placed on us to the General Assembly with regard to pressed their support for the funda- in helping the world discharge this this socio-economic programme as mental reform to the system of global mandate. well as the role of our immediate former governance including the United Na- President, Thabo Mbeki. “During his tions as well as the Bretton Woods During our tenure, the Security presidency of the rainbow nation, Institutions. Council also focused on the important spanning nearly a decade, he, along question of the enhancement of the other African leaders, championed the It is important to understand that relationship between the UN and regional vision of NEPAD we still pursue today. the critical issues facing the world to- organisations, in particular the African When the affluent listen to Africa and day – the current financial, food and Union. We were honoured to be able to partner with it, that vision is within energy crises – cannot be addressed contribute to this work. We congratulate reach”. To quote NEPAD’s founding effectively when so many other coun- the Secretary-General for appointing document: “In fulfilling its promise, this tries and regions of the world are left the AU/UN panel of distinguished agenda must give hope to the out of the key decision making proc- personalities whose mandate is to emaciated African child that the 21st esses of important institutions of glo- explore financing modalities for AU-led century is indeed Africa’s century”. bal governance. South Africa stands peacekeeping missions. ready to work with other members Excellencies, Ladies and Gentle- of the United Nations to advance the Mr President, peace continues to men, the Doha development round goal of reform.
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