South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor has denied that the country’s position on the Russian-Ukrainian war was “neutrality” as described by some opposition parties.
Pandor denied this on Thursday when she answered questions in the National Council of Provinces where she dismissed the accusations by the opposition parties that Pretoria remained neutral in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
“We are not neutral. We abhor war. We believe war does great harm,” Pandor said.
She added: “We don’t support the invasion of the territorial integrity of another country by any other UN member state.”
The minister said South Africa has been “clear in all our statements” regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
“We believe there should be negotiation. We believe the United Nations must play a key role in such a process,” she said.
She added: “That’s not neutrality.
The Russia-Ukraine war is now in its sixth month after Moscow troops crossed the border and started bombing cities in the early hours of February 24.
NM/jn/APA