Mbeki to tackle climate issues
2007-09-23 11:02
Johannesburg - South African President Thabo Mbeki was to leave Sunday for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he will focus on tackling climate change, the foreign ministry said.
Mbeki will lead a delegation including Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for his country's first-ever participation in the General Assembly as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The president and delegation were to attend a UN Security Council debate on peace and security in Africa.
"South Africa committed itself to help create synergies between the (African Union) Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council in the maintenance of global peace and security as well as the prevention of outbreaks of conflicts in the continent of Africa," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Mbeki was also to address the 62nd session of the General Assembly on Tuesday on South Africa's approach to climate change and ways of addressing the global challenges it presents.
- SAPA