Pandor: SA resisting politics of aggression & confrontation
International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor says the use of the UN General Assembly as a voting forum to decide on peace and security issues is an unfortunate development within the global body.
Her comments come after the United Nations on Thursday voted to suspend Russia from its Human Rights Council.
It was held amid widespread outrage after dozens of civilians were found dead on the streets of Bucha near Kyiv, after Russian troops withdrew from the area.
Moscow denies its soldiers are responsible for the killings and claims footage of the bodies was staged.
Speaking in Pretoria on Friday, Pandor said the decision to suspend Russia not being taken by the UN Security Council signals a global shift.
READ: SA abstains from another key UN vote on Russia
"We are witnessing tectonic shifts in global affairs, particularly since the Russian Federation used force without sanction of the UN Security Council, which is the body that will sanction such action in its entry into Ukraine on the 24th of February."
South Africa abstained from Thursday's vote.
"Our country, countries on the continent and many others are affected by this conflict. All of them have sought to assert their independent, non-aligned views on the matter of this war underway,” Pandor added.
"We have resisted in our responses, becoming embroiled in the politics of confrontation and aggression that has been advocated by the powerful countries."
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