South Africa says it never seeks to impose its will on Egypt

English>>World

Editor's Pick

South Africa says it never seeks to impose its will on Egypt

(Xinhua) 19:41, August 21, 2013

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

CAPE TOWN, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has never sought to export or impose its version of national reconciliation on Egypt or any other sovereign country, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in remarks published on Wednesday.

"Rather, in its statement, the South African government conveyed its readiness to share with Egypt experiences and lessons from its own political transition from apartheid rule to a genuine multi-party democratic dispensation," the DIRCO said in a statement distributed by the Government Communication and Information System.

The DIRCO made the remarks in response to what it labelled a misrepresentation of South Africa's foreign policy position by the Egyptian interim government which last week accused South Africa of trying to "export its failed reconciliation process that hasn't achieved real coexistence or basic needs of its people, who suffer some of highest world rates of crime, corruption, poverty, unemployment and epidemics."

The Egyptian authorities issued the statement after the South African government strongly condemned the use of force by Egyptian security forces to disperse demonstrators in Cairo.

"The tone and spirit of the statement from the Egyptian authorities will contribute little to the alleviation of what is increasingly becoming a political and security crisis in Egypt, initiated by the removal of a democratically elected President through a military coup," the DIRCO said.

The department said it was most unfortunate that the Egyptian authorities had singled out South Africa in its criticism despite the overwhelming international condemnation of the recent brutal repression of demonstrations by the Egyptian security forces that led to a tragic loss of lives.

The DIRCO reiterated that South Africa specifically rejects any unconstitutional change of government -- whatever the premise.

The DIRCO said Egypt, as a member of the African Union, has always voted consistently in favor of suspending other members from the organization on the same basis, and has worked with those sister countries to restore constitutional government at the earliest opportunity so that affected states may resume their valued role within the AU.

"Rather than attacking the integrity of the AU, Egypt should respect the AU processes and cooperate with the AU High Level Panel in support of a peaceful and inclusive transition and restoration of constitutional order in Egypt," the DIRCO said.

It said South Africa remains concerned that the violence and tragic loss of Egyptian lives takes Egypt further away from the democratic aspirations as expressed by the millions of Egyptian voters last year.

"It is also incumbent on those forces responsible for law and order to protect civilians and prevent further bloodshed in Egypt. The South African Government maintains that national reconciliation and an Egyptian-led, all-inclusive negotiated process remains the only option for Egypt to get out of the present impasse."

The Egyptian military ousted Mohamed Morsi in early July, one year after he was sworn in as Egypt's president. The move plunged the country into political chaos.

The South African government has called for the unconditional release of Morsi, who has been detained by the military.