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Nothing to discuss on Zimbabwe, SA tells the UN
13 Aug 2013 at 13:26hrs | Views
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can no longer exclude the 54 African states, South African International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said on Monday.
"Africans have a very clear position; we are saying there will be no change without us. The 70 percent of the issues that go to the Security Council are about us, so it cannot continue to be without us."
Nkoana-Mashabane was addressing a joint press briefing with visiting president of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, Vuk Jeremic, in Pretoria.
The former Serbian foreign affairs minister concurred with Nkoana-Mashabane.
Regarding the just-ended elections in Zimbabwe, Jeremic said he would expect an update on the situation from the South African authorities.
"I am sure the situation in Zimbabwe is one of the important things (on the agenda). I don't know where I can get a better affirmation, outside Zimbabwe, than here in South Africa," he said.
However, Nkoana-Mashabane said there were no updates on Zimbabwe to update the UN top official about.
"There is absolutely nothing new to discuss on Zimbabwe. The parties that did not win the election have approached the highest court in Zimbabwe.
"We will all wait for the outcome of the court process. All the observer missions have said the elections were peaceful and free. We have already made our own national statement on the elections in Zimbabwe," she said.
President Jacob Zuma has since congratulated Robert Mugabe on his re-election as president of Zimbabwe following the disputed July 31 polls.
"President Zuma urges all political parties in Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the elections as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people.
"(He) also encourages the people of Zimbabwe to seize this opportunity to collectively contribute towards building their country driven by a common desire for peace, stability and prosperity," Zuma said in a statement issued by the department of international relations.
"Africans have a very clear position; we are saying there will be no change without us. The 70 percent of the issues that go to the Security Council are about us, so it cannot continue to be without us."
Nkoana-Mashabane was addressing a joint press briefing with visiting president of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, Vuk Jeremic, in Pretoria.
The former Serbian foreign affairs minister concurred with Nkoana-Mashabane.
Regarding the just-ended elections in Zimbabwe, Jeremic said he would expect an update on the situation from the South African authorities.
"I am sure the situation in Zimbabwe is one of the important things (on the agenda). I don't know where I can get a better affirmation, outside Zimbabwe, than here in South Africa," he said.
"There is absolutely nothing new to discuss on Zimbabwe. The parties that did not win the election have approached the highest court in Zimbabwe.
"We will all wait for the outcome of the court process. All the observer missions have said the elections were peaceful and free. We have already made our own national statement on the elections in Zimbabwe," she said.
President Jacob Zuma has since congratulated Robert Mugabe on his re-election as president of Zimbabwe following the disputed July 31 polls.
"President Zuma urges all political parties in Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the elections as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people.
"(He) also encourages the people of Zimbabwe to seize this opportunity to collectively contribute towards building their country driven by a common desire for peace, stability and prosperity," Zuma said in a statement issued by the department of international relations.
Source - online
