23 Feb 2017

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi says it is not Botswana’s foreign policy for the Head of State not to attend the African Union (AU) and United Nations Head of State and Government summits.

Answering a question in Parliament on Wednesday, Dr Venson-Moitoi said the Head of State has the discretion to delegate the country’s representation at the appropriate level and with full mandate and powers and that was in line with international norms and practice.

The minister also said in view of competing national and regional priorities, it had not been possible for the President to personally attend the summits, of which for that reason, the President had delegated accordingly.

In addition, she said, the President’s attendance at the UN and AU summits in the remaining years of his term in office would continue to be guided by the competing national and regional priorities prevailing at the time.

She also told Parliament that as far as they were concerned, the President’s non-attendance of AU summit had not affected Botswana’s candidate for the AU Commission chairmanship.

The international affairs minister further indicated that the President supported the Botswana candidate throughout the campaign period, including securing full endorsement of the SADC region.

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had wanted the minister to explain if it was Botswana’s foreign policy for the Head of State not to attend the UN and AU summits.

Mr Keorapetse also wanted to know why the President had never attended any such summits and whether in the few remaining years of his term in office he would attend them.

The legislator also wanted to know how such had affected Botswana’s candidate for the AU Commission chairmanship. BOPA