Pretoria - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will next week host the 17th meeting of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation in Pretoria.
The meeting is scheduled for 20 and 21 July.
“Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ will chair the meeting of ministers responsible for foreign affairs, defence, public and state security from all SADC member states,” the International Relations and Cooperation Department said.
It said pertinent issues to be discussed were the political and security situation in the region, administrative arrangements for the SADC Electoral Advisory Council, the SADC Observer Mission in Lesotho, the SADC mediation structures and preparations for the hosting of Exercise AMANI AFRICA II.
A field training exercise for the African Standby Force will also feature on the agenda.
The reports of the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee and Inter-State Politics and Diplomacy Committee will be considered by the meeting.
“The SADC Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ convenes at least one statutory meeting annually, to review the implementation of its previous decisions and to consider the operationalization of its various sub-structures,” the department said.
The Chair will report to the next SADC Summit, which will be held in Botswana in August. –SAnews.gov.za
