Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz arrived in South Africa on Wednesday for a five-day visit that will include a meeting in Pretoria on Thursday with President Thabo Mbeki.
Aziz arrived from Baghdad via Damascus and Khartoum at the head of a six-man delegation and was given a red-carpet welcome at Waterkloof Air Force Base outside the capital, according to AFP.
"I am carrying the best wishes from my leader Saddam Hussein to President Mbeki and the South African leadership," he said after being met by Transport Minister Dullah Omar and Arab ambassadors.
The visit, at the invitation of Deputy President Jacob Zuma, will include trips to the cities of Durban and Cape Town. It was not timed to coincide with the July 8-10 Organization of African Unity/African Union summit in Durban, Aziz conveyed.
"There was simply an agreement between the two capitals and we chose this time."
The deputy Prime Minister added that "South Africa is the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement which is a very important international organization. The South African government and leadership have done their best to help us (overcome the effects of sanctions) with the Non-Aligned Movement and unilaterally.
"The situation in the whole Third World is so bad that we have to work with each other to improve our situation internationally."
South Africa's foreign ministry said the Pretoria government intended to discuss with Aziz the situation in the Middle East "and, in particular, on the expected effects of the new sanctions regime for the people of Iraq who have been subject to severe suffering by more than 10 years of stringent international sanctions. There will also be discussions on ways of breaking the impasse on weapons inspections."
Aziz will also hold political discussions with Zuma and with Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and Minister of Minerals and Energy Affairs Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka will also hold bilateral meetings with Aziz, the department said.
(Albawaba.com)
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