Statement by H.E Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa, during the Meeting of the UNSC Sanctions Committee on the Central African Republic
09 September 2016Your Excellency Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine and Chair of the Security Council Committee Established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic,
Distinguished Members of the Committee,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I wish to thank Ambassador Yelchenko for inviting my delegation on behalf of the Sanctions Committee, to attend today’s meeting of the Committee.
I wish to underscore’s South Africa’s support to the work of this Committee as mandated by relevant resolutions of the Security Council.
We particularly welcome the opportunity afforded to my delegation to interact with members of the Committee on this important issue of ensuring and facilitating compliance with relevant sanctions regimes.
Mr Chairman,
Since the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994, South Africa has endeavoured to play an active role in conflict resolution globally and in particular on the African Continent. In this regard, we have, through our mediation and peacekeeping efforts, sought to promote peace and security on the Continent. In this regard, we have done our utmost, working with the Government of the Central African Republic, neighbours and the African Union to assist this sisterly country achieve peace. We have paid dearly for our efforts, including the loss of life when a few years ago, 19 of our uniformed personnel paid the ultimate price in the promotion of peace and stability of that country.
Since 1994, our Government has consistently supported the work of the United Nations Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security, through various forms entailed in the Charter of the United Nations including through peaceful means and application of sanctions in accordance with Article 41 of the Charter.
Furthermore, we also recognize the importance of Security Council sanctions as crucial measures to maintain and restore international peace and security. We are also cognisant that sanctions could be a useful measure to promote peace efforts while also deterring potential spoilers to undermine efforts to advance peace and reconciliation in a particular conflict situation or region. In this context, South Africa is a living testimony that sanctions work as demonstrated in the manner this Council addressed the case of apartheid South Africa.
Excellencies,
Since my arrival as the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, I have sought to prioritise the outstanding issue concerning the alleged travel ban violation by one of the listed individuals.
In this context, I have held a meeting with the distinguished Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan, in his capacity as the President of the Security Council for the month of July 2016 as well as the distinguished Deputy Permanent Representative of Representative of Ukraine, in his capacity as the Representative of the Chair of this Committee. During this meeting, I reiterated to them, South Africa’s commitment to working with the Panel of Experts and the Sanctions Committee to expedite South Africa’s response to the previous requests on this issues.
Mr Chairman,
During the visit of the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on the Central Africa Republic in early August 2016, I instructed one of my Senior Officials to meet with Mr Ruben de Coning to exchange views on the issues relating to the outstanding issue on this file. It is my understanding that the afore-mentioned was valuable and on our side, we made specific commitment to revert back to the Panel of Experts with additional information as soon as possible.
Furthermore, I wish to assure members of the Sanctions Committee that my delegation will endeavour to communicate to the Chair of this Committee by end of September with additional information as requested by both the Committee and the Panel of Experts.
Mr Chairman,
With these few remarks, I would like to assure you that South Africa will continue to work with members of the Security Council, in particular this Sanctions Committee under your able stewardship, to ensure compliance with relevant sanctions regimes. We will work tirelessly to coordinate and communicate additional information requested by the Committee. Once this process has been concluded and confirmed, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations will transmit the information to the Committee.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I wish to reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to complying with all resolutions of the Security Council in accordance with our international obligations.
Finally, I wish to once again express our appreciation for inviting us to interact with Committee.
Thank you.