Page 12 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 27 Final
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Leadership
international relations, interfaith dialogue (South particularly my colleague,
without necessarily African Embassy, March 19) the foreign minister…. And
speaking to us. And this is with representatives from to use our [South Africa’s]
very troubling…. If I were Jewish, Christian and Muslim earned democratic success
to make a statement about organizations opposed to to say this actually works …
their policy, I would at Israeli’s war in Gaza. because if we stop talking
least speak to us first, and with everybody, because we
attempt to understand, the Baer asserted that: the BRICS define them in a particular
cause, if any, might be of invited six new members, four way, I think that the models
an emerging dissonance. of which are authoritarian we have adopted would not
regimes. have any meaning…. We use
Regarding the United our post-apartheid progress
Nations, Min. Pandor Pandor stood her ground, as a way of exemplifying for
said: I think we need to responding: Who makes these others that we think this is a
look at the composition judgments? This assessment good practice to adopt.
and the functioning, and that you’re making…
the capacity associated Baer: It’s difficult to make
with having a Security Baer interrupted her, saying: the argument that South
Council. I think we should You would challenge the premise Africa’s example is available
have African presence as that Iran, for example, is an to people in Iran or China, or
permanent members…. authoritarian regime? in Saudi Arabia….”
I also think East Asia
should have a presence. Min. Pandor: Is it your role to Min. Pandor: We’re not a
I think India being so big make that judgment? perfect democracy by any
and not being a part of the means…. We have huge
permanent members is an Baer replied: I don’t think it’s problems of poverty … which
odd reality…. me, uh, saying that. It’s widely derive from our history …
regarded by most people…. which we have not been
Continuing on the UN, able to fully address as an
she said: we don’t need Min. Pandor: I don’t know emerging democracy. But
more multilateral bodies if they are an authoritarian I do believe that there is a
to replace the United regime. I do know that— strength in being able to
Nations, but the UN needs speak with everyone, because
to be reformed to be more Baer interrupted: The minister if you close off, I don’t think
than a monitoring body…. of South Africa does not you achieve anything.
We need to consider the know if the regime in Iran is
[UN] capacity for peace authoritarian?
enforcement. We have to International Court of
find a way of protecting Min. Pandor: I don’t have that Justice (Courtesy of Al
innocent people when definition in my logbook. I do Jazeera)
there’s a conflict. have a concern about women,
and their rights in Iran, and this The discussion was
Minister Pandor is something I have discussed contentious again when Baer
participating in an with the government of Iran, criticized South Africa for
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