Nasionale Vergadering
Posbus 15
Kaapstad
8000
 
National Assembly
P.O. Box 15
Cape Town
8000

 

Her Excellency Barbara Joyce Masekela
South African Ambassador to the United States of America
 
3051 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC
20008
ambassador@saembassy.org
Fax: 202-265-1607
 

Dear Ambassador Masekela
 
Meeting between Thomson CSF and President Thabo Mbeki
 
I have in my possession two faxes that suggest that President Mbeki, in his role as Deputy President and Head of the Ministerial Committee overseeing the Arms Deal, met with French Arms Company, Thomson CSF, in Paris, on or about 17 December 1998.
 
I have given the President the opportunity to confirm or deny that he was at the meeting on a number of occasions. He has responded that he cannot recall whether or not he was present at the meeting.
 
One of the faxes, from B. de Bollardiere (Senior Vice President of Thomson-CSF) is addressed to yourself when you were South African Ambassador to France. The fax thanks you for arranging a meeting between the “Deputy President of your government, Mr Thabo Mbeki with Messrs Jean-Paul Perrier, Michel Denis and myself.”
 
I therefore respectfully request you to confirm or deny whether you arranged a meeting between President Mbeki met with Messrs Jean-Paul Perrier, Michel Denis and B. Ballardiere on or about 17 December 1998 in Paris.
 

Yours sincerely
 
 
Eddie Trent MP

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