Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will chair the Ministerial Meeting of NAM, which is scheduled from 27 - 29 April 2002 in the ICC Durban. South Africa has been chairing the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) since it hosted the XII Summit Conference of the Heads of State or Government in Durban in 1998. South Africa is now nearing the end of its Chairmanship and as one of its last responsibilities as Chair of the Movement, will host the Ministerial Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Foreign Ministers and Senior Officials of the 115 member Movement will prepare for the next Summit Conference of the Heads of State or Government and discuss issues of importance on the agenda of the Movement. The NAM is also celebrating its 40^th Anniversary and the general theme of the Meeting is : "40 Years and Beyond".

The Senior Officials of the Co-ordinating Bureau will start their deliberations on 27 April in order to prepare the Final Document for adoption by the Ministers on 29 April 2002. The Ministers will participate in an interactive dialogue on 28 April on the "Global Environment and the Role of the Non-Aligned Movement", after which President Mbeki will formally open the Ministerial Meeting. The Opening Ceremony will be followed by a banquet hosted by President Thabo Mbeki in celebration of the Movement's 40^th Anniversary.

The Co-ordinating Bureau in New York has called for a meeting of the Committee on Palestine at the Ministerial level. The meeting will take place in Durban on the afternoon of 27 April 2002. The Members of the NAM Security Council Caucus were also invited to participate in the Meeting along with Egypt and Jordan in their capacity as co-sponsors of the peace process. In addition the meeting will also be attended by Lebanon in its capacity as the Chair of the League of Arab States, as well as the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. The VII Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of the NAM, held in New Delhi in 1983 decided to "set up a Committee on Palestine at the level of Heads of State or Government to work with the various forces influential in the Middle East Conflict for the achievement of a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East which would enable the Palestine people to exercise their rights and freedom and sovereignty in their independent homeland".

For further information please contact :

Mr Ronnie Mamoepa

Cell : 082 990 4853

Tel : (012) 351-0091

Ms Basetsana Thokoane

Cell : 083 443 7740

Tel : (012) 351-0174

Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs

Private Bag X152

PRETORIA

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25^th April 2002