Norway’s Stoltenberg meets Mandela

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg today met with Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. They discussed efforts to fulfil the UN Millennium Goals.

“It is an honour to be able to meet with Nelson Mandela. We talked about vaccination programmes and about how to reach UN Millennium Goals 4 and 5 to reduce children and maternal mortality. Mr. Mandela’s personal involvement in these issues has meant a lot. I thanked him for his visit to Norway in 2005 and for his participation at the Mandela Concert in Tromsø” Stoltenberg says.

The meeting between Stoltenberg and Mandela took place in Mandela’s office at the Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg. Stoltenberg’s visit to South Africa is part of a tour where he will visit also Mauritius and Tanzania. Climate issues, children mortality, maternal and children health and UN reform are central topics for the tour.

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa’s first black president (1994-1999). His fight for reconciliation and cooperation made him win the Nobel Peace Prize for 1993, together with South Africa’s president at the time, Frederik Willem de Klerk. Mandela will turn 90 in July this year.

Earlier today Prime Minister Stoltenberg had talks with ANC President Jacob Zuma, on climate and poverty issues and the situation in Zimbabwe. Later today Stoltenberg will meet with Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.