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South Africa explains abstention from UN draft resolution on Syria
South Africa's Department of International Relations and Co-operation says the country abstained from voting on the recent UN Security Council resolution on Syria because previous resolutions have been abused.
The department's spokesperson, Clayson Monyela said this in a statement.
A hidden agenda
He said that the implementation of other resolutions passed by the Council went far beyond the mandate of what was intended.
“In the resolution before us, South Africa was concerned about the sponsors' intention to impose punitive measures, which would have prejudged the implementation of the resolution. We believe that these were designed as a prelude to further action”, Monyela said.
Monyela said government was also concerned that the resolution was part of a hidden agenda to institute a regime change in Syria.
“Accordingly, we are concerned that the sponsors of this resolution rejected a language that clearly excluded military intervention in the resolution of the Syrian crisis. Pretoria is of the view that a holistic political solution must be found that would respect democracy, political reform, justice, human rights as well as the socio-economic development needs of the people of Syria, in order to ensure long-term peace and stability. This solution must also preserve the unity, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Syria.'' Monyela said.
Regional implications
He added that Syria was integral to a wider resolution of the Middle East conflict, which meant that its stability was linked to that of its neighbours.
“Therefore, any action by the international community on Syria, including action by the Security Council, should be cognisant of the regional implications. Pretoria hoped the situation would be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with the will of the Syrian people. It also called for maximum restraint from all the parties in the conflict. We demand an immediate end to all violence in Syria. We urge the Syrian authorities to initiate an open, transparent and all-inclusive political process with its people to address their grievances in order to guarantee their fundamental political rights and freedoms, including their rights to freedom of assembly and speech'', he added.
Accessing humanitarian agencies
The statement also called on Syrian authorities to facilitate access by humanitarian agencies, including the UN, in accordance with relevant international human rights and humanitarian laws.
It was reported that the draft resolution had strongly condemned Syrian authorities for their violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and called for an immediate end to human rights abuses.
According to the UN, an estimated 2,700 people have been killed in Syria since mid-March when the protest movement began.
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