Explanation of Vote by South Africa at the UN Security Council vote on the Situation in Venezuela
28 February 2019
Mr President,
South Africa has made its position clear on the situation in Venezuela when we addressed this Council two days ago.
We reiterate our view that inclusive political dialogue is necessary to resolve the political crisis in Venezuela. We remain concerned at the serious humanitarian situation in the country and support United Nations efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the hardships experienced by the people of Venezuela.
Mr President,
South Africa is concerned at the irregular procedure in tabling the Resolutions before us. The dispensing of the 48-hour practice for the consideration of the drafts undermines due process and our ability to meaningfully engage on the text to reach consensus.
We have before us two divergent draft resolutions on the situation in Venezuela. This is unfortunate, as South Africa believes that the Security Council should be unified in its approach to supporting the people of Venezuela in finding a solution to the crisis. We must speak with one voice in assisting the Venezuelan people in weathering the humanitarian challenges faced as a result of the political and economic difficulties in their country.
However, instead of bringing the Council and the people of Venezuela together, the resolutions illustrate how far this Council is from contributing to dealing with the crisis. The lack of unity of the Council on this matter widens the divisions and undermines the credibility of this Council to make a meaningful contribution.
Ideally, the Council should adopt a resolution that would facilitate internal, inclusive political dialogue among the people in determining their own way out of their political and economic difficulties.
Furthermore, a Council resolution should facilitate the provision of international assistance based on the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and based on a thorough and accurate needs assessment. Thus, the provision of aid should be depoliticised and meet the needs of the Venezuelan people.
Mr President,
While the resolution presented by the United States calls for a peaceful political process, it is prescriptive on the outcome of this process thus infringing on the sovereignty of the Venezuelans. Internal political processes should remain the national prerogative of member states. From the outside, we can encourage parties to engage in political dialogue but we cannot dictate outcomes such as the holding of elections. Furthermore, the context of the crisis, set out in the proposed US Resolution, does not reflect a balanced understanding of the underpinnings of the crisis in Venezuela.
There are three elements in the US Resolution that are antithetical to the principles and values that underpin South Africa’s democratic dispensation and its foreign policy.
Firstly, in preambular paragraph four (4), regarding the authority of the National Assembly to release political prisoners and grant amnesty, South Africa views this as tantamount to the National Assembly usurping the authority of the Executive. This is in violation of the principle of the separation of powers on which the South African Constitution is predicated on. Therefore, South Africa cannot support, at the international level, the violation of this universal, sacrosanct and inviolable principle that underpins the governance of the modern state.
Secondly, South Africa can also not support operative paragraph one (1) which expresses deep concern that the presidential elections of May 20, 2018 were neither free nor fair
President Nicolas Maduro was re-elected for a second six-year term in the presidential elections on 20 May according to the National Electoral Council (CNE). President Maduro was re-elected by a wide margin, garnering over 5.8 million votes according to Tibisay Lucena, the president of CNE. His closest challenger Henri Falcon received around 1.8 million ballots and the third place candidate Javier Bertucci got 925,042 votes. Over 8.6 million Venezuelans went to the polls, putting voter turnout at 46.01 percent. The announcement was made when the CNE counted more than 92 percent of ballots.
South Africa respects the authority of the CNE as the constitutionally mandated body that is charged with the management of the electoral process in Venezuela. This body declared President Maduro the winner and this should be respected. This is the basis on which President Maduro enjoys legitimacy and international recognition.
Third and finally, South Africa believes that operative paragraph four (4) is partisan and biased as it stressesthe importance of only ensuring the security of the members of the National Assembly, and members of the political opposition. A UN resolution cannot stress the security of a certain sector to the exclusion of others. As an impartial body, the UN should insist on the security of all Venezuelans.
South Africa is thus not in a position to support the resolution proposed by the United States.
Mr President,
The text presented by the Russian Federation is consistent with South Africa’s Constitution and values and principles of democracy founded on the rule of law.
At the international level, the Russian text asserts the principles of the UN Charter and reinforces the founding principles of the UN based on the sovereign equality of all its Member States.
This Resolution speaks to the principles of peaceful settlements of international disputes in line with the provisions of Article 2.3 and Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations on the Peaceful Settlements of Disputes. Furthermore, the Resolution reiterates the need to fully respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence for the provision of international / humanitarian assistance.
Having considered both resolutions, South Africa cannot support in the US text as the three paragraphs mentioned earlier, reflect a bias and partiality, whereas the Russian text is a reaffirmation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which enjoys universality in terms of its scope and application. On this basis, South Africa will support the latter resolution.
In conclusion, ultimately, South Africa would encourage that any further action by this Council should be guided by the genuine process to maintain international peace and security and promote unity of purpose in this regard.
I thank you.
Rev. Thursday, 28-Feb-2019 8:22 PM