SA will continue efforts to advance peace - Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says Russia's invasion of Ukraine has taken the focus off other urgent global issues.
He was speaking at the 2022 Heads of Mission Conference in Pretoria on Thursday.
"As a global community, we have an equal responsibility to bring a decisive end to human suffering in Yemen, Palestine, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Mozambique and the Eastern DRC.
"We will continue our efforts to bring about peace in a number of these conflict zones. South Africa will continue to leverage its membership in multilateral fora to advance the cause of peace.
"We will defend our non-aligned position and maintain an independent foreign policy. We will pursue our national interest as we pursue the common interests of our global humanity."
READ: Education key to addressing skills shortage – Ramaphosa
International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor says the invasion has exposed a glaring double-standard by the international community.
"We believe there needs to be consistency in the approach of the international community to countries that violate international law.
"When Israel launched sustained offensive military operations against the Gaza strip, killing hundreds, flattening homes, burying civilians under the rubble, the world failed to respond in the same way it has on Ukraine."
South Africa has taken a neutral stance in the situation, saying the UN must step in to mediate a peaceful resolution.
It has so far abstained from voting in two UN resolutions adopted over the war.
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