Mbeki off to New York

2005-09-12 08:44

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki is to leave for New York on Monday to attend the Review Summit of the Millenium Development Goals and the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the two events were scheduled to take place from Wednesday to Friday, and from Saturday to Wednesday respectively.

Mbeki would be accompanied by his wife Zanele and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

At the millenium summit, heads of state and government would consider progress towards development goals as outlined in the Millennium Summit of 2000.

These included halving extreme poverty, reducing infant mortality by two-thirds and achieving universal primary education by 2015.

Mamoepa said the UN would consider recommendations on the reform of the UN Security Council and international finance institutions.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had asked 32 countries, including South Africa, to examine aspects of the reform package.

The aim of the request was to speed up negotiations and outcomes in time for consideration by the government leaders during the UN Summit.

"The UN Summit marking the 60th anniversary of the UN is expected to draw the largest number of heads of state and government ever," Mamoepa said in a statement.

- SAPA