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Role of SA in the UN Security Council NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR
ORAL REPLY QUESTION NO: 8 PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO
3 OF 20 FEBRUARY 2007
DR A.N LUTHULI (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS:
1. What does it mean for South Africa to sit on the United Nations
Security Council? N210E REPLY: 1. South Africa's tenure as a non-permanent
member of the United Security Council affords us the opportunity to make direct
contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. 2.
South Africa needs to understand all the issues that are in the UNSC agenda so
that we can take informed decisions in line with our own principles, values and
policies. The decisions taken by the UNSC have implications for the whole world.
It is a big responsibility. 3. The Permanent members wield a lot of the
power in the UNSC so our contribution is in an environment where there is this
power imbalance. 4. South Africa's vision is of an African continent that
is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united and which
contributes to a world that is just and equitable. Membership of the Security
Council is an opportunity to promote the African Agenda and South Africa's national
interests. 5. Membership of the Security Council affords South Africa the
opportunity to help promote multilateralism and respect for international law,
as the most appropriate means of achieving global political and economic stability
and security.
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