South Africa’s membership of the United Nations Security Council was an historic milestone for the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
”Not so long ago, South Africa itself was a conflict-afflicted society that was subject to Security Council sanctions,” the department said in a statement.
South Africa’s first-ever term as an elected member of the council ended on December 31 2008.
”The Security Council was a useful platform for intensifying the work South Africa had already undertaken in conflict resolution in Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere,” said Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
”One of the primary achievements was helping to revitalise the debate on the relationship between the UN and regional organisations and enhancing coordination between the UN and the African Union,” she said.
South Africa had also forged partnerships with council and non-council members from across the so-called north-south divide on important matters such as security-sector reform, the non-proliferation of light weapons and gender mainstreaming, Dlamini-Zuma said.
South Africa’s membership of the Security Council was influenced by its own national experience and desire to assist countries to emerge from conflict.
”In its council interventions, South Africa sought to help create an enabling environment in which the parties themselves might achieve reconciliation through dialogue.”
It proceeded from the premise that multilateralism and respect for international law were the most appropriate means of achieving global political and economic stability and security.
”South Africa actively engaged all sides to better understand their views on the complex issues before the council.”
South Africa’s central strategic objective was to help advance the African agenda, but it also actively engaged on all issues on the Security Council’s agenda pursuant to the global mandate associated with council membership.
South Africa achieved leadership positions, for example as lead nation on Timor-Leste and head of a key Security Council mission to Africa.
”South Africa also influenced a large number and diversity of council outcomes,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was conducting an in-house assessment of the country’s participation in the Security Council and would be convening a roundtable discussion with civil society early in 2009. — Sapa