Pretoria: The South African Government welcomes the entering into effect of the ceasefire arrangement in Syria. The Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim noted that the situation in Syria remains fragile and reiterated South Africa’s call for all sides to the conflict to fully implement their commitments under the 6-point plan of the Joint Special Envoy (JSE) of the United Nations and the Arab League, Mr Kofi Annan.
New Delhi: While voting with all other United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members in favour of a U.N. team monitoring the ceasefire between the government and rebels in Syria, India underlined the importance of the mission observing the principles of integrity by being impartial and independent.
London: It is difficult to follow the current debate about "humanitarian intervention" in Syria without being struck by the wearying familiarity of so many of the arguments. Virtually the same points knocked back and forth last year, over Libya, and before that over Darfur, and then a list of crises stretching back to Rwanda and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the mid-1990s.
Johannesburg: South Africa’s post-apartheid foreign policy – of which Thabo Mbeki was the key architect – prioritises an African-focused agenda and south-south solidarity, while establishing alliances and pursuing reforms of global institutions, which enhanced our leverage to pursue developmental and other interests.
New Delhi: The five powerful economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) to meet in the fourth edition of their summit in the Capital on March 29 is likely to send a strong warning against any Western "military misadventure" in Iran and try to firm up a common position on war-torn Syria.
New York: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed that the international community must continue to “speak with one voice” to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, stressing that there is no time to lose in seeking to end the ongoing violence.
London: The Libya campaign led by Britain and France was a military success but has come at a potentially high price, making future UN-backed missions to protect civilians less likely, a report by a leading UK security thinktank has warned.
New York: Let me begin by welcoming you, Mr Foreign Secretary, and other Ministers to the Security Council. I would like to thank the UK delegation for organizing today’s Debate to discuss developments in West Asia and North Africa over the last year.
Beijing: In recent years, the West's "neo-interventionism" under the banner of "responsibility to protect" has caused tremendous controversy in the international arena. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China should unequivocally advocate "responsible protection".
The concept of “the responsibility while protecting” is an interesting example of how Brazil is attempting to play the role as a mediator between the United States and Europe (which tend to be quick to recommend military intervention) on the one hand and reluctant BRICS members, such as Russia and China on the other.
