CAPE TOWN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Africa continues to believe that multilateralism will continue to be a key aspect of international relations, a senior government official said on Friday.
In the rapidly changing world, collective action is required to mitigate the geo-political interests that threaten global sustainable development, good governance and security, said Luwellyn Landers, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
Speaking at a public lecture in Cape Town on South Africa's one-year tenure in the UN Security Council (UNSC), Landers said his country will utilize its tenure to promote the maintenance of international peace and security by advocating the peaceful settlement of disputes and inclusive dialogue.
South Africa began its tenure as a non-permanent member at the UNSC for the third time on January 1 this year.
"We will continue to encourage closer cooperation between the United Nations Security Council and other regional and sub-regional organizations, particularly the African Union," he said.
History has told the world that when countries work collectively, setting aside narrow national interests and putting the lives of innocent civilians first, they have been able to make a positive contribution to resolving conflict and war, Landers said.
However, the world today is unfortunately characterized by a rise in populism and nationalism, increasing geopolitical divisions and the pursuit of narrow interests, having made it more difficult to respond to transnational challenges, he lamented.
"States are interdependent and even the most powerful countries cannot achieve security, nor maintain prosperity and ensure sustainable development for their people by acting unilaterally or in isolation," he said.
A multilateral system based on international law that fosters greater interdependence and mutual cooperation is the only way in which these difficulties can be successfully addressed, said Landers.
South Africa will also take advantage of its tenure at the UNSC to continue advocating for the improvement of the working methods and the comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the reform and expansion of the Council.
South Africa strongly advocates that two permanent seats on the UNSC be allocated to the African continent.
