FREE DAILY EMAIL

The South African mission in Syria is to help evacuate 20 more South Africans who are still in Lebanon, foreign affairs deputy minister Aziz Pahad said yesterday.

On Monday, foreign affairs said 60 South Africans who were in Lebanon, were assisted on Friday by the country's diplomatic mission in the Middle East to leave Lebanon via Syria and were now back in South Africa.

Israel continued with its attacks on towns and villages in Lebanon on Monday as it called for Hezbollah to free two soldiers held as captives.

The airport and other port infrastructure have been destroyed and this, according to Pahad barred any movements into Lebanon.

“Despite statements by the G8, the European Union, and discussions by the United Nations' Security Council, the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate,” noted Pahad yesterday, briefing the media in Pretoria.

In a bid to calm tensions, the G-8 leaders meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, called on Israel to “exercise utmost restraint” in its offensive in Lebanon but blamed the crisis on “extremist elements”.

Pahad said what made it difficult for the South African mission there to evacuate citizens, was the fact that the Israeli state was continuously firing air-strikes into Lebanon.

But he noted that South Africa was currently in talks with other Middle East countries, including Syria (where it has an embassy), to assist in escorting the remaining South Africans in Lebanon to a place of safety.

Pahad reiterated that government would not encourage “collective punishment” demonstrated by Israel which “was indiscriminately bombing Lebanon”.

“We do hope that the international community will act a little more decisive to put an end to this disaster that is unfolding there.”

On the Asian front, Pahad indicated that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had not shown any interest yet to participate in the Six Party Dialogue (P-6 grouping) discussions, aimed at addressing the missile testing impasse there.

The P-6 grouping comprises North Korea, the US, Japan, China, Russia and South Korea.

Earlier this month North Korea launched missile tests which included the long-range Taepodong-2.

It has defended its actions, saying the launch was part of a routine exercise to increase its military capability for self-defence and not to disturb any peace.

However, the P-6 grouping has recently made it clear in a joint statement that it still thought it best for all the affected countries to discuss the issue, noting that it wanted to make the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons.

“We want to reiterate that North Korea must consider going back to the P-6 party negotiation,” said Pahad, adding that he believed this would bring about an amicable resolution between warring parties.

On Iran, he said the country had considered entering into negotiations with all parties involved, including concerned Western countries, over its nuclear programme.

“The fact that Iran has accepted the document that outlines in detail the confidence-building measures and the processes of negotiations, it gives hope that there is movement in a positive direction,” he said.

South Africa has played a key role in mediating between Iran and Western countries - especially the European troika of France, Germany and Britain.

Pahad noted that Iran was expected to respond to the tabled document on August 21 after which negotiations would resume among all stakeholders. - BuaNews

SPONSORED BY

Advanced