Kaya News Reporter
President Cyril Ramaphosa used his weekly newsletter on Monday, to emphasise SA’s stance on the Ukraine-Russia war.
This after South Africa abstained from voting at the United Nations General Assembly to condemn Russia for war crimes last week.
Calling for lasting and durable resolution of the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia, Ramaphosa said negotiation, dialogue and compromise is best to diffuse the current situation.
Using South Africa as an example of achieving peace through negotiation, Ramaphosa said being consistent in the advent of democracy is an important part of foreign policy orientation.
The president said SA abstained from voting in last week’s UN resolution because the plan of action failed to call for meaningful engagement.
“Even prior to the resolution being passed at the UN last week, talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials had already started. South Africa expected that the UN resolution would foremost welcome the commencement of dialogue between the parties and seek to create the conditions for these talks to succeed. Instead, the call for peaceful resolution through political dialogue is relegated to a single sentence close to the conclusion of the final text. This does not provide the encouragement and international backing that the parties need to continue with their efforts.”
President Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa said peaceful negotiation is aligned with values upon which the UN was founded. to discharge its responsibility to maintain peace and security. This gives impetus to the long standing calls for the Security Council’s reform to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
“We are particularly concerned that the UN Security Council was unable to discharge its responsibility to maintain peace and security. This gives impetus to the long standing calls for the Security Council’s reform to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
The president says that although the pace of dialogue may proceed gradually, continuing negotiations between the two neighbouring countries should be reinforced.
“We all call upon Russia and the Ukraine to subject this conflict to mediation and do everything in their power to reach an agreement that will lead to the cessation of hostilities.
The peoples of Russia and Ukraine – two neighbours whose histories, peoples and fortunes are inextricably bound together – deserve a peace that is durable, sustainable and lasting.”
Also read: Jacob Zuma backs Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling Putin a man of peace
