SOUTH AFRICAN ATTENDANCE AT UNGA

UNCLAS PRETORIA 002708 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/PPC (BATTLE),AF/RSA (KELLEY, EPSTEIN AND AMADEO),AF/S NEW YORK FOR USUN/POL (MCBRIDE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ITRA OVIP AORC UNGA SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICAN ATTENDANCE AT UNGA REF: A. SECSTATE 101170 ¶B. SECSTATE 104172 (SBU) Following is Post's information on attendance of South African Government (SAG) officials at the 62nd UNGA General Debate. The SAG has not finalized its delegation list, but Department of Foreign Affairs staff told Post July 31 that they expect the President, Foreign Minister, the President's Legal Advisor, and at least one DFA Deputy Director General (A/S equivalent) to attend. Other Ministerial-level attendance is also possible. DFA Protocol expects to have more detailed information about SAG delegation members after 15 August. ¶A. Attendance of Head of State -- Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa -- No information on arrival or departure dates. DFA expects President to stay in New York for two to three working days. -- Not certain if Mrs. Mbeki will travel with President. -- No interpretation required in meetings. ¶B. Attendance of Head of Government -- President Mbeki serves as both Head of Government and Head of State ¶C. Attendance of Foreign Minister -- Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs. -- No information on arrival or departure dates. DFA expects ForMin to stay in New York for approximately two weeks. -- Not married. -- No interpretation required in meetings. ¶D. Attendance of other host country VIPs -- Possible that Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk will attend UNGA given the UNSYG's focus on climate change. No information on arrival or departure dates. No interpretation required. ¶E. Attendance of Foreign Ministry Official responsible for IO affairs or official who is regular interlocutor of A/S Frazer -- Likely that Ambassador S. George Nene, DFA Deputy Director General: Multilateral Affairs (IO A/S equivalent),will attend UNGA. No information on arrival or departure dates. No interpretation required. -- Likely that Advocate Mojanku Gumbi, Legal Advisor to the President, will attend UNGA. No information on arrival or departure dates. No interpretation required. -- Possible that Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo, DFA Deputy Director General: Bilateral African Affairs, and Ambassador Jesse Duarte, Deputy Director General: Multilateral African Affairs, will attend UNGA. No interpretation required. Bost