He is in South Africa from today, Monday (23/1) for talks with one of his country’s most important allies in a continent divided over war in Ukraineis the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Lavrov will meet his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor in the capital Pretoria in what South African government officials have described as a formal visit. However, opposition parties and the country’s small Ukrainian community condemned the visit.
A representative of the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out, as reported by the Athens News Agency, that Sergei Lavrov arrived in the country early this morning and is expected to give a joint press conference with Pandor at 12.00 Greek time.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government considers the South Africa neutral on the war in Ukraine and has expressed a desire to mediate.
Pandora has repeatedly insisted her country does not support either side and has criticized the West for selectively condemning Russia while ignoring other aggressive actions, such as Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.
Although South Africa has declared its neutrality in the conflict and abstained from voting on resolutions at the United Nations, it has maintained close ties with Russia, which was a friend of the current ruling African National Congress when it was a liberation movement against its rule. white minority.
The South African military is to host a joint military exercise with Russia and China on the country’s east coast from February 17 to 27, a move likely to further strain ties with Washington and European countries.
It even coincides with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Source: News Beast
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