Deputy President Jacob Zuma on Friday night condemned ”bully states” that attempted to coerce other countries and even international organisations into doing their bidding.
He was speaking at a banquet in Durban in honour of visiting Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.
”We believe that justice and equity will never be achieved whilst the majority of the world is fragmented, disempowered and ignored by bully states,” Zuma said.
”This is the kind of world order we must continue to seek to change. No part of the world, region or country should give itself a right or authority to decide for others. This we must not allow.”
Zuma said every state had the obligation to respect
international institutions such as the United Nations.
”No country must put itself above these institutions, or bully these institutions into taking decisions which promote the interests of that specific country.”
Zuma said South Africans were deeply saddened by the suffering of the Iraqi people caused by twelve years of UN sanctions.
”We maintain our position that the UN should lift sanctions against Iraq,” Zuma said. – Sapa