South Africa participates in a General Assembly Meeting commemorating the third anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine

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  • South Africa participates in a General Assembly Meeting commemorating the third anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine

The United Nations General Assembly is meeting today in New York on the third anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

South Africa voted in favour of a General Assembly resolution presented by the United States of America with amendments by the European Union, which:

(i) reiterates that the principal purpose of the United Nations, as expressed in the United Nations Charter, is to maintain international peace and security and to peacefully settle disputes.

(ii) reaffirms the commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, extending to its territorial waters; and

(iii) implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and Russia, in line with the UN Charter and the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States.

South Africa continues to call for the urgent cessation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in order to prevent the further loss of life and the destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure. Every effort must be made to de-escalate the conflict.

South Africa remains firmly committed to the need for a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict within a rules-based system centred on international law, including the respect for human rights, and the principles of the UN Charter. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states remain inviolable.

Consequently, South Africa supports all efforts to bring the conflict to an end and welcomes all efforts to bring about negotiations. We remain steadfast in our commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflict through a negotiated settlement with all parties to the conflict having a seat at the table.

Consistent with the African Peace initiative we have always maintained that a commitment to inclusivity is key to deliver the buy-in of all Parties to the conflict, and to provide acceptable solutions to both parties.

We are at a point of inflection in this conflict with the urgency to seize the momentum towards a negotiated settlement.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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