BRITISH MINISTER VISITS  LESOTHO
  The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa and Commonwealth affairs, Baroness Valerie Amos arrived in the country, on Tuesday 30 July,2002 on a one-day visit. A press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that the visit forms part of Baroness Amos's tour in the Southern African region. On arrival at Moshoeshoe I airport, Baroness Amos met with the Prime Minister, Mr Pakalitha Mosisili who was departing for Malaysia to attend the Smart Partnership Dialogue.


She met with the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Tim Thahane, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mohlabi Tsekoa and the opposition leader, Major General Metsing Lekhanya at different times and venues. Among the issues that she discussed during the meetings were the recent successful election, presence of the opposition within the parliament framework, the role of Lesotho within the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the United Kingdom's bilateral assistance to Lesotho and the British response to food crisis.
Baroness Amos's visit is the first one by a British Minister, since that of lady Chalker in September 1995.

30 July, 2002

  SOURCE: LENA