. Kalaba

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba has said that Zambia has been successful in its international relations this year.
Mr Kalaba said the Foreign Affairs Ministry had achieved most of its benchmarks.
He said among the many achievements, the process to relocate the legal, financial and structural implications of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (AU) from Ethiopia to Zambia had been completed and the conferring of President Edgar Lungu as the United Nations He-For-She campaign champion.
Mr Kalaba said Zambia ascended to the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ on politics, defence and security.
The minister said this when he was in Ethiopia on his way to France.
This is according to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia In’gutu Mwanza.
He said the climax of the successes in the Foreign Affairs Ministry was the hosting of the AU Peace and Security Council high-level meeting in Livingstone early this month.
Zambia has continued to work as a crusader of peace and security on the continent.
And Mr Kalaba has commended Zambian diplomats for assimilating the movement from political to economic diplomacy.
He said the Government was now focused on economic diplomacy and wanted to ensure that Zambia reaped benefits of being in good business, trade and economic relations with the outside world.
Mr Kalaba commended Zambian diplomats for representing the country well in their countries of accreditation and wished the Zambian Diaspora God’s blessings during this festive season.
He also thanked the staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for working diligently and ensuring that the country was well represented in all aspects.
Mr Kalaba was received at Bole International Airport by Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative at the African Union Susan Sikaneta.