South Africa states its position about the encounter with the Malagasy Delegation at the United Nations

We take note of reports making rounds in the Malagasy media on the purported meeting between South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and the delegation from Madagascar at the United Nations (UN).

Meeting in the corridors of the United Nations Headquarters, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane expressed South Africa’s appreciation to the Malagasy delegation for voluntarily withdrawing from the speakers’ list of both the High Level Plenary on the implementation of the MDGs and the General Debate of the 65th Session of the General Assembly as per the position of both SADC and the AU.

The Minister reiterated that the African Union and SADC application of sanctions against the de facto authorities of Madagascar is not about punishing the Malagasy people, but aimed at assisting the country to move faster towards constitutional order and normalcy.

Accordingly, the Minister reiterated South Africa’s position that there’s no shortcut to resolving the crisis in Madagascar save through the roadmap designed by both SADC and the AU.

The Minister also recalled the decision of SADC to open an office in Madagascar to facilitate teh SADC mediation and liaise with the local mediation efforts on the ground. She thus encouraged the delegation of Madagascar to take full advantage of that office and make effective use of it.

For more information, please do not hesitate to call Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi, Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, at +27 82 940 1647, +27 12 351 0083 or email him at molobisk@dirco.gov.za.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
RIETONDABLE
0002

25 September 2010