Whether South Africa’s Vote in Favour of a No-fly Zone over Libya had to be explained to its partners, Russia, India and China (BRICS)

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 1749 (NW1975E)

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19-2011 OF 1 JULY 2011

QUOTE

Mr LS Ngonyama (COPE) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

1. Whether South Africa’s vote in favour of a no-fly zone over Libya had to be explained to its partners, Russia, India and China (BRICS); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

1. As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, South Africa engages on an on-going basis with all members of the Council, including its BRICS partners, on the issues before it, in support of the Council’s mandate to maintain international peace and security.

2. South Africa’s support of the Council’s decision to impose a no-fly-zone over Libya was informed by the call of the countries of the region to strengthen the implementation of resolution 1970 (2011) in the face of the continued violence against civilians carried out by the Libyan authorities. South Africa was also clear that it would continue to work through the Council, the African Union and other multilateral and bilateral platforms for the resolution of the Libyan crisis in a manner consistent with the aspirations of the people of Libya. South Africa’s views were clearly articulated to all Council members in the intense consultation process preceding the adoption of resolution 1973 (2011), which imposed the no-fly-zone.

UNQUOTE