SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCLUDES OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA
Press Release
SG/T/2048
SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCLUDES OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA
19960429 MIDRAND, 28 April -- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali left today at the conclusion of his three-day official visit to South Africa.On Saturday, 27 April, he delivered the opening address of the ninth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX). Later, he attended two round tables organized by UNCTAD to address the major challenge on the eve of the millennium: the exclusion of 2 billion people from the global economy and the need to integrate them in the global economy. Participants in the first round table included five heads of State attending the Conference. The Secretary-General chaired the second round table of heads of major international development agencies.
During his visit, the Secretary-General also had meetings with President Nelson Mandela of South Africa and with other senior government officials. He was also present at the celebrations of the national Freedom Day of South Africa. The Day marks the first free democratic elections held in South Africa, on 27 April 1994.
The Secretary-General was seen off at the airport by Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa. Also present at the airport were: Rubens Ricupero, Secretary-General of UNCTAD; David Whaley, United Nations Resident Coordinator; and other heads of United Nations offices in South Africa.
He proceeds to Nairobi to chair the Administrative Committee on Coordination late this afternoon.
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