Dlamini-Zuma to host Adams

2005-10-17 13:11

Cape Town - Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will host Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams for discussions in Pretoria on Tuesday, her department said on Monday.

Sinn Fein is the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Adams will pay a special visit to South Africa from Tuesday to Friday, the department said in a statement.

"This visit follows the recent historic decision by the IRA, in response to the courageous and far-sighted call made by Gerry Adams in April 2005, to end the armed struggle and put all of its weapons beyond use."

With the announcement by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning that the IRA had destroyed the totality of its arsenal, the stage had now been set for a revival of the peace process and for creating a lasting peace after many decades of a protracted struggle.

A core focus of the visit would be sharing experiences on decommissioning and disarmament, and particularly the lessons that could be learnt from the various peace processes in Africa.

"In this context, it should be noted that the decommissioning of arms has become a key element of conflict resolution world-wide," the department said.

The discussions between Adams and Dlamini-Zuma would focus on, among others, the latest developments in the peace process and the next steps on the road to implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

While in South Africa, Adams was also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Thabo Mbeki, and hold discussions with Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils and other prominent South Africans.

He would also lay a wreath at Freedom Park in Soweto, before addressing the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

- SAPA