SA president Zuma pulls out of NZ trip

South African President Jacob Zuma has pulled out of a visit to New Zealand next week during the Pacific Islands Forum, the Herald understands.

Prime Minister John Key had been hoping to today officially announce his visit along with that of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The latter two are still scheduled to come but Mr Zuma has withdrawn. He is scheduled to visit Norway this week.

Mr Zuma had been expected to attend a meeting in Auckland next Tuesday of Pacific leaders who are part of the Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) grouping of countries.

It will go ahead with the 15 Pacific members.

It is also understood that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev won't be coming for the rugby - he'll come on a trade agreement related visit next year - and that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be sending his Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Zhukov.

Mr Zhukov is also president of the Russian Olympic Committee.

New Caledonia and French Polynesia are associate members of the Pacific Islands Forum and their leaders will be in Auckland for the forum, Harold Martin and Oscar Temaru respectively.

The Prime Minister of Timor Leste, Xanana Gusmao, will also attend as an observer of the forum.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully yesterday announced that several foreign ministers will be in town for the Post Forum Dialogue on Friday.

They include French Foreign Minister and a former Prime Minister, Alain Juppé,
and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

Also here will be United States Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides, United States Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, Canadian Parliamentary Secretary Deepak Obhrai, and Korean Vice Minister Min Dong-seok.

Mr McCully also said he expected high-level attendance from Japan, Italy and Britain, as well as representatives from Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Representatives from Luxembourg, Spain, Slovenia, Hungary, Finland, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan and Bhutan were also expected to visit during the week.