wfn.org | NCCCUSA to South Africa with Clinton

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in U.S.A.
Contact: Wendy S. McDowell, NCC, 212-870-2227
Internet:  news@ncccusa.org

NCC3/24/98         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC HEAD TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA WITH CLINTON DELEGATION

 NEW YORK, March 24 ---- The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown 
Campbell, General Secretary of the National Council of 
Churches (NCC), will be part of a high-level delegation to 
accompany President Clinton on March 25-29 for the South 
Africa portion of his historic visit to Africa.

 "I hope that the President's visit will increase the 
understanding of the people of this country about the 
importance of Africa to the United States, not just 
economically but theologically," Dr. Campbell said.  "When 
we dream of a global human community where peace and 
justice are possible, Africa is essential to the 
realization of that dream."

Dr. Campbell will be part of the congressional and 
citizens delegation accompanying President Clinton which 
includes business and civic leaders.  Among them are Kweisi 
Mfume, President of the NAACP; John Sweeney, President of 
the AFL-CIO; the Honorable Wellington Webb, Mayor of the 
City and County of Denver, Colo., and Carl Ware, President 
of the Africa Group for Coca Cola.

 The five-day visit will include Cape Town and 
Johannesburg.  Events include a tour of Robben Island, 
President Clinton's address to the South African 
Parliament, a commerce luncheon in Cape Town, a state 
dinner at the Vergellen Wine Estate and the inauguration of 
the Ron Brown Commercial Center in Johannesburg.  On 
Sunday, Dr. Campbell will attend church with President and 
Mrs. Clinton in Soweto.  The Rev. Jesse Jackson is 
scheduled to preach at that service.

 Members of the President's cabinet, ambassadors to 
African countries and other governmental officials are 
traveling with the President on the 10-day trip to Ghana, 
Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana and Senegal.

This trip marks the first time a U.S. President has 
made an extended trip to Africa.  In a press briefing held 
March 20, National Security Advisor Sandy Berger explained 
that "one of the overriding goals of this trip is to help 
Americans rethink Africa, and Africans rethink America."

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