Cowen holds talks with South African President

Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen is today meeting South African President, Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria.

The meeting is part of Minister Cowen’s three-day visit to the country. His trip has focused on a number of aid programmes and his itinerary included a visit to the impoverished township of Atteridgeville on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Development Cooperation Ireland is funding a number of community-based activities there, administered by Irish missionaries.

At a reception in the Irish Embassy in Pretoria, the Minister later announced Government funding of €300,000 to assist in building the capacity of the Secretariat for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).