Former president FW de Klerk congratulated South Africa and the foreign ministry for being elected to the United Nations Security Council.
In a statement on Wednesday, De Klerk said the overwhelming vote that South Africa received in the UN’s general assembly was an indication of the esteem in which the country was held in the international community.
”I would like to congratulate Minister [of Foreign Affairs] Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and all those who were involved in helping to secure the seat.”
He said much of the esteem had its roots in the balanced and constructive role South Africa played in many areas of global relations ”and particularly with regard to our exemplary contribution to peace in Africa”.
”I hope that our country’s election to the Security Council will be the precursor to our appointment before too long to a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council,” he said.
South Africa was elected on Monday night to serve on the council in a non-permanent capacity for two years. — Sapa