WeeklySA_AdminPEACE: Ambassadors to SA must desist from interfering in the internal affairs of their host country…
By Monk Nkomo
South Africa sought a world order where nations of the world stood united against racism, colonialism, subjugation and all forms of oppression and intolerance.
This was said by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the presentation of Letters of Credence of New Heads of Mission accredited to South Africa at Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane.
‘’ We strive to ensure that global and security is secured through dialogue and negotiation and not through force of arms where international laws, treaties and agreements are upheld and respected.’’
Ramaphosa said above all, South Africa sought a world order that brought sustainable development and shared prosperity for all and not the few . It was his pleasure to welcome the New Heads of Mission as they began their tenure as representatives of their respective countries to the Republic of South Africa. This was an auspicious year for South Africa, as the country marked 30 years since the adoption of its democratic Constitution.
‘’Our Constitution reflects the painful history from which we emerged three decades ago and the values we now cherish: human dignity, equality and freedom. It commits all South Africans, not just the state, to safeguarding our democracy, to upholding the rule of law and to protecting human rights. These principles are neither transient nor negotiable. They are enduring and binding. They shape the manner in which we govern ourselves and they shape how we engage with the world’’.
South Africa’s international relations outlook reflected the founding principles of its Constitution. As a nation that emerged from a painful past of injustice and inequality, the country sought a more just and equitable world order, said Ramaphosa.
South Africa sought a global order defined by peace and friendship amongst all the nations of the world. Their presence here today reflected that these were shared aspirations.
And in South Africa, the New Heads of Mission would find a ready, willing, able and capable partner for trade, development, progress and peace. They would begin their tours of duty in South Africa at a time when the economy was in the throes of recovery. The structural reform agenda the government embarked on in 2018 to overcome longstanding constraints to investment and growth continued to gain momentum.
South Africa’s sovereign credit rating had improved, public debt had stabilised and the economy was creating more jobs. ‘’Last week we held our sixth South Africa Investment Conference, where we secured R889 billion in cumulative investment commitments. This has encouraged us to set a goal of securing R3 trillion in new investment commitments over the next three years. The State itself is at the forefront of this new, ambitious drive’’.
Ramaphosa also added that the government had embarked on the largest infrastructure build in the country’s history. They would be investing approximately R1 trillion over the next three years to build roads, dams, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure.
A debilitating energy crisis was behind them, and they had embarked on a range of far-reaching reforms to overcome challenges in the water sector and in logistics. The government’s policy and regulatory environment had proven to be resilient, offering certainty to investors looking to South Africa as a favourable destination to invest and do business in. ‘’As we pursue our apex priority of inclusive growth and job creation, we are firmly committed to deepen our cooperation and collaboration with all countries. We hope that your time in South Africa will contribute to building meaningful, sustainable economic partnerships. As South Africa celebrates thirty years of advancing peace and friendship, we further look forward to engaging with you on global matters of mutual concern.’’
Our world, Ramaphosa said, had become increasingly complex. Multilateral diplomacy and respect for the multilateral system had become all the more crucial. In a world beset by profound and interconnected challenges – whether they be conflicts, the climate crisis or the proliferation of poverty and inequality were the government’s surest means to overcome them.
The President thanked the Excellencies for their enduring commitment to South Africa and her people. Where many of their respective countries once stood in solidarity with South Africa’s black community in their struggle for liberation, today they continued to renew that commitment through trade, investment and development.
He welcomed the New Heads of Mission to South Africa to extend this fellowship as they represented their governments and their people.
‘’Just as your Head of State has welcomed South Africa’s Ambassador or High Commissioner in your country, I extend the same warm welcome to you and wish you well in your mandate of representing your country. As President, whenever I appoint Ambassadors and High Commissioners to your country I expect them to respect your country’s sovereignty and promote good relations between our two nations. I expect them to promote trade and investment opportunities in our respective countries’’. Ramaphosa also expected them to promote South Africa’s culture and value system and strengthen people-to-people relations. He expected South Africa’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners to their countries to exercise diplomatic tact and discretion and desist from interfering in the internal affairs of their countries. ‘’If they have any manner of concern, they should raise those concerns directly with officials in your country’s foreign affairs department and engage in quiet diplomacy. This, I believe is what the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations promotes.
“Whenever I send our Ambassadors and High Commissioners to various countries, I always make it a point to inform them that they should never criticise their host countries publicly and in a confrontational manner but should always seek to raise issues privately and constructively. They should always seek to build relationships with various stakeholders in the host country. They should always choose to preserve dignity and partnership between our respective countries.’’
It was this approach that built strong relationships between nations and helped to advance the interests of their respective countries based on mutual respect, said Ramaphosa.
South Africa’s interest was to advance a better, more peaceful, more equal world, anchored in human rights and with respect for the dignity of all. Its Ambassadors and High Commissioners to various countries in the world were expected to advance this national objective.
