Sun 16 July 2023:
South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, says the government is still trying to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin not to attend the BRICS summit next month, News 24 reported.
Because South Africa is a member of the International Criminal Court, the government is obligated under international law to arrest Putin for crimes related to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The 15th BRICS summit is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg between the 22nd and 24th of August 2023, with little certainty about whether Putin would go and, if so, what South Africa will do.
“It’s a big dilemma for us. Of course, we cannot arrest him. It’s almost like you invite your friend to your house, and then arrest them. That’s why for us, his not coming is the best solution.
“The Russians are not happy, though. They want him to come,” he said in an interview in Johannesburg on Friday.
Said Mashatile:
Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Naledi Pandor confirmed last week that the BRICS summit will be held in SA.
Mashatile said that no decision had been taken to uninvite Putin, and the strategy remained one of persuasion until Ramaphosa met him in Russia at the end of July. Uninviting him was tricky as Russia had been an original member of BRICS while SA joined later, he said.
In March this year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) accused Putin of war crimes and issued a warrant for his arrest.
During a ‘peace mission’ to Ukraine and Russia, President Ramaphosa provided Putin with three options for the summit: not attending, tuning in virtually or attending at a different location. Sources indicated that Putin had chosen not to attend – this, however, has changed.
Ramaphosa discusses grain deal with Putin
President Cyril Ramaphosa has held talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin where they discussed the grain deal.
Ramaphosa also confirmed discussions with Putin on Saturday. Their discussion came after Ramaphosa’s call to UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the Black Sea grain deal.
The two leaders also said they discussed the peace efforts following the visit by African leaders to Kyiv and St Petersburg in June.
Putin’s office said the two leaders will continue to discuss the peace talks on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit at the end of July in St Petersburg.
Cancelling a critical trade agreement
South Africa’s ties with Russia have been questioned by the international community and affected global markets. The United States, in response to South Africa, has begun talks of cancelling a critical trade agreement called the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
AGOA enables numerous sub-Saharan African countries to engage in duty-free trade of specific products with the United States. This legislation contributes billions of rands to the economy and supports the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.
SA’s bonds and currency were hit hard after the claim by US ambassador to SA Reuben Brigety that SA had sold arms to Russia, which were loaded onto the now famous Lady R, which had docked in Simonstown. Mashatile says he is keenly aware of the financial consequences for SA should Putin arrive and not be arrested.
What is BRICS?
BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the governments of which have formed a rival to the G7 alliance of developed economies.
Russia has frequently cast the grouping as a challenge to Western hegemony and a key to a future “multipolar” world no longer dominated by the United States or Europe. In February, it held joint naval exercises with China and South Africa just off the latter’s coast.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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