South Africa - Department of International Relations and Cooperation

The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
international relations
& cooperation
Department:
International Relations and Cooperation
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
South Africa: Candidate for election
as a Non-Permanent Member of the
United Nations Security Council
for the Term 2011-2012
S
outh Africa was one of the original 51 founding members of the
United Nations. The United Nations General Assembly decided on 12
November 1974 to suspend South Africa from participating in its work,
due to international opposition to the policy of apartheid.
During the late seventies and early eighties UN Security Council sanctions were
instituted against South Africa and it was barred from officially participating in United
Nations related bodies. Financial support was also provided by the United Nations to
national liberation movements. Both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan
Africanist Congress (PAC) obtained Observer Missions at the UN with UN financial
support. South Africa remained on the agenda of both the UN General Assembly and
the Security Council during the struggle against apartheid.
The democratic elections in South Africa in April 1994 paved the way for the complete
normalisation of South Africa’s relations with the UN. Since then South Africa has
participated actively in all aspects of the work of the Organisation. Its global status
has increased significantly through participation in numerous UN bodies, agencies
and General Assembly sessions. The role of the UN and the international community
during the fight against Apartheid instilled a firm belief in South Africans of the value of
multilateralism and the UN system.
Democratic South Africa is thus a strong supporter of multilateralism and respects the
current system of governance based on the United Nations and its various bodies.
These institutions serve to combine the international community’s strength to maintain
international peace and security and employ multilateral institutions for the promotion
The first
democratically
elected
President of
the Republic of
South Africa,
Mr Nelson
Mandela,
addressing
the Special
Committee
against
Apartheid in
the General
Assembly Hall,
22 June 1990
of the economic and social well-being and advancement of all peoples. South Africa
is also of the view that this is the legitimate and credible system through which other
major global issues such as food security, disasters, refugees, international crime and
disarmament could be effectively addressed in a collective manner.
In October 2006, South Africa was elected by the Members of the General Assembly to
serve, for the first time in its history, as a non-Permanent Member of the Security Council
for the period 2007-2008. The election to the Council offered South Africa the opportunity
to advance the African agenda of achieving peace, security and development, including
respect for human rights. South Africa also regards the Security Council as a platform to
help promote multilateralism and respect for international law as the most appropriate
means of achieving global political and economic stability and security.
The 14 th Ordinary Session of the African Union held in Addis Ababa on 31 January –
2 February 2010 endorsed South Africa’s candidature as Africa’s candidate for the nonpermanent
seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2011-2012.
South Africa’s candidature for 2011-2012 will be guided by its commitment to
strengthening the multilateral system and its support for a broader multilateral approach
to questions of international peace and security.
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The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
Principles of South Africa’s
Foreign Policy
• a commitment to international peace and to regional and
internationally agreed upon mechanisms for the resolution of
conflicts;
• a commitment to justice and international law;
• a commitment to the promotion of democracy;
• a commitment to the promotion of human rights; and
• a commitment to the African Continent.
The President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, addressing the United Nations General
Assembly, 23 September 2009
Former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki, addressing a High-Level meeting
of the United Nations Security Council on Peace and Security in Africa, 25 September 2007
S
outh African foreign policy aims to help forge an African
continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, nonracial,
non-sexist and united and which contributes to a world
that is just and equitable.
In the conduct of its foreign policy, South Africa is guided by and upholds
the following principles:
Former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe (right), holding
talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left), 25 February 2009
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The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
Why does South Africa seek
election to the United Nations
Security Council
• Guided by its own national experience in transforming peacefully from
apartheid and isolation to democracy, South Africa would utilise its own
experiences in the prioritisation of diplomacy, inclusivity and transparency
and working to assist parties to achieve unity and national reconciliation;
• Since 1994 South Africa has played a substantial role in the maintenance
of international peace and security, inter-alia, through active participation in
UN and regional peacekeeping missions; mediation efforts to secure peace
in a number of conflict areas, particularly on the African Continent; and
co-operation with United Nations bodies that promote international peace
and security.
The United Nations Security Council in session
• Membership of the Security Council affords South Africa an opportunity
to contribute to promoting multilateralism and respect for international law
as the most appropriate means of achieving global political stability and
security;
• It also provides South Africa an opportunity to play an enhanced role in
contributing to the work of the United Nations in the maintenance of
international peace and security;
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Ms Maite
Nkoana-Mashabane, addressing the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and
Economic Crises and its Impact on Development, 24 June 2009
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The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
What would South Africa
do on the Security Council
if elected
• Promote the African Agenda, including the highlighting of the continent’s
priorities in the area of peace and security;
• Continue to work together with all the members of the Southern African
Development Community, the African Union and United Nations in pursuit
of effective global governance, multilateralism and the reform of the United
Nations system;
• Work towards improving the working methods of the Security Council to
make it a more legitimate, representative and effective body.
Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa,
Mr Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, addressing the United Nations Security Council at a debate on
Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, 22 July 2009
• Contribute to achieving peace and stability in the continent and in all regions
of the world;
• Continue to promote the importance of developing effective partnerships
between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organisations in
maintaining international peace and security;
Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa,
Ms Sue van der Merwe, addressing the United Nations Security Council at a debate on
Security Sector Reform, 12 May 2008
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The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
South Africa’s Contribution
to the UN System
South African Observer Mission to the Elections
in Timor-Leste, June 2007
The South African maritime contingent of the
United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB)
during a medal parade in Bujumbura, Burundi,
27 October 2006
• Significant contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. To
date, South Africa has contributed troops to UN Peacekeeping forces in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sudan, and Nepal;
• Since 1994, South Africa has inter-alia, chaired the following international
bodies:
• Non-Aligned Movement,
• Commonwealth,
• African Union,
• G77 and China.
South African troops participating in UN Peacekeeping Operations
• South Africa has also hosted the following UN Conferences:
• World Summit on Sustainable Development;
• World Conference against Racism.
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The Republic of South Africa: Candidate to the United Nations Security Council 2011-2012
Produced by: The Department of International
Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa
Coordinated by: Chief Directorate - United Nations
Design and Layout by: Branch - Public Diplomacy