South African FM: People of Palestine deserve their territory, freedom
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South African International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said diplomacy is still the correct path to follow to solve the war in Ukraine.
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South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, right, accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, speaks during a strategic dialogue opening session meeting at the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022 (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
South African International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said diplomacy is still the correct path to follow to solve the war in Ukraine.
The remarks were delivered during an address with the press in Pretoria alongside visiting US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
"We support a search for peace, we are appalled by war, we abhor war because it brings untold suffering which is something we experienced under apartheid," said Pandor.
Opening Remarks by Minister Naledi Pandor at the occasion of the hosting of the South Africa – United States Strategic Dialogue, 08 August 2022, Pretoria
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) August 8, 2022
Read | https://t.co/vFyy7suzsI#SAUSARelations🇿🇦🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Oh3R7jEF6C
"Just as much as the people of Ukraine deserve their territory and freedom the people of Palestine deserve their territory and freedom," she added.
Blinken responded the US did employ diplomacy in the Ukraine conflict, though without success. "We don't seek conflict anywhere. We did not want the Russian aggression against Ukraine and we tried very hard diplomatically to ward it off because that's not how we want to be spending our time," he said.
Terrific to meet with Foreign Minister @DIRCO_ZA Pandor today in Pretoria to strengthen the enduring ties between our countries and advance shared priorities through the U.S.-South Africa Strategic Dialogue. pic.twitter.com/DO8KUa6dHN
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 8, 2022
Read more: South African FM: Palestinians living under apartheid
Pandor is well-known for expressing her views in support of the Palestinian cause. During the second meeting of the Palestinian Heads of Mission in Africa, held in the capital Pretoria last month, she said “The Palestinian narrative evokes experiences of South Africa’s own history of racial segregation and oppression.”
She was also the first representative of the South African government to denounce the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May by Israeli forces during a raid in the West Bank.
