Paul Connaughton
Ceist:69 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to Mozambique. [30431/03]
Vol. 577 No. 1
69 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to Mozambique. [30431/03]
77 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of discussions he had with political leaders during his official visit to South Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30483/03]
85 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent trip to southern Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30508/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 77 and 85 together.
My visit to South Africa and Mozambique began on 21 November. As well as the political meetings undertaken, I visited some of development co-operation Ireland's projects in South Africa and Mozambique. On my second day in South Africa, I visited the township of Soweto and saw the devastating impact which HIV-AIDS has on the local population there and also the great work of our development officers, NGOs and missionaries.
On 22 November, Foreign Minister Zuma hosted a working dinner at her residence for the Irish delegation. Our discussions covered bilateral relations with South Africa, EU-Africa dialogue, Zimbabwe, UN reform, the WTO and the Middle East. It was a very productive meeting in which I outlined our intention, as EU President, to work in partnership with African governments, including South Africa, to enhance Africa's capacity to deal with the issues which the continent faces. I also agreed with Foreign Minister Zuma to the establishment of a structured bilateral partnership agreement with South Africa to augment the relations between our countries. Regular ministerial and official level dialogue is envisaged and the details will be finalised in the coming months.
The following day, I met with President Mbeki and expressed to him our aim to give strong support to African issues during our Presidency next year. We discussed South Africa's role as a successful mediator in various African conflicts, including Burundi. We agreed that effective multilateralism was a common foreign policy aim for both countries and I invited President Mbeki on a state, or indeed official, visit to Ireland at his convenience.
In Mozambique, I met with President Chissano, the current President of the African Union. The president spoke of the African Union's, AU, efforts in conflict resolution and of the intensification of our bilateral relations since 1996. He praised the work of development co-operation Ireland in Niasse and Inhumanbane, two of the poorest regions in Mozambique and Ireland's support of the new partnership for Africa's development, NEPAD, initiative.