"Mbeki outlines bold plans for the new year"

Helping countries on the African continent solve their political, economic and social problems will be a key area of South Africa's foreign policy in 2005, says President Thabo Mbeki.

In a new year's message on Friday, he said particular attention would be paid to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Ivory Coast.

"Our continent of Africa has continued to make progress towards solving its political, economic and social problems. We will continue in the new year to contribute whatever we can towards the achievement of this objective.

"In particular in the new year, we will have to focus on working with the governments and people of the DRC, Burundi and Cote d'Ivoire as they prepare for and hold democratic elections, as well as the Sudanese people as they engage the challenge of post-conflict reconstruction.

Full Article : iol.co.za