South Africa Committed to Diplomacy While Upholding Principles, Minister States
Click to start listening
Synopsis
South African Minister Ronald Lamola emphasized the nation's strong commitment to diplomacy, insisting on maintaining principled positions while addressing international relations and trade with the US, despite ongoing tensions and legal actions regarding Israel.
Key Takeaways
- South Africa prioritizes diplomacy over insults.
- Commitment to principled international positions.
- Trade relations with the US are valued.
- South Africa's case against Israel remains firm.
- Redress policies are constitutional and non-negotiable.
Johannesburg, April 1 (NationPress) The South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has reiterated the nation’s dedication to diplomacy, asserting that it will steadfastly adhere to its principled positions.
During the opening of the inaugural Annual Aziz Pahad Peace, Security, and Human Rights Dialogue in Pretoria, the administrative capital of the country, Lamola highlighted that South Africa will not indulge in "trading insults" with any nation, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"Our focus is on practicing diplomacy. We are not in the business of exchanging insults with anyone globally. We will uphold our principled positions and continue to pursue our national interests while maintaining diplomatic decorum," Lamola stated. "Disagreements with any country should be based on the substance of the issues, not insults."
He further acknowledged South Africa's mutually beneficial trade relations with the United States, expressing the government's commitment to extending a hand to improve our recently strained relationship with the US.
While Pretoria is open to repairing its relations with Washington, it remains steadfast on its policies, including taking the Israeli government to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2023 over accusations of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
In a briefing addressing international relations at the African National Congress on Sunday, Lamola asserted that South Africa is unwilling to withdraw its case at The Hague.
"This is a matter we will not retract from the court. We will not compromise on this issue. There are aspects of progressive internationalism that we cannot negotiate, including our stance on the ICJ. This is a matter of international law that must be respected by all," he affirmed.
In the Monday dialogue, Lamola emphasized that South Africa would persist in pursuing its redress policies, including the Expropriation Act, despite recent tensions with Washington.
He stated that these policies are enshrined in the nation’s constitution. "The foundational elements of redress are clearly articulated in the preamble of our Constitution. As a sovereign nation, we will continue to strive towards transformative objectives as recently outlined in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, National Health Insurance Act, and the Expropriation Act."
