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International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told a meeting of G20 Ministers of Foreign Affairs, taking place from 18 to 20 February 2012 in Los Cabos, Mexico, that the G20 can play an important leadership role, based on the values and principles that underpin the United Nations (UN) Charter, to address the world’s many needs and challenges.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane said: “South Africa is committed to working with the G20, and like-minded countries, to make a real difference in helping to facilitate the unblocking of stalled negotiations, where appropriate, in facilitating the implementation of agreements already reached and in reforming the multilateral institutions that make up the global system of governance.”

On the need to reform global governance systems, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane said: “South Africa is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period 2011/12. The UNSC is one of the global governance institutions that we believe, very strongly, should be more representative – in both composition and decision-making processes – of the international community.”

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane added: “South Africa has been actively engaged in and supportive of all aspects of the reform process and welcomes the progress that has been made to date. However, more than ever, the world is in need of comprehensive reform of the UNSC which involves an expanded Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, and with improved working methods.

“In keeping with the principle of equitable representation, Africa, which makes up a considerable percentage of the overall membership of the UN, must be represented in the permanent category of the UNSC. A reformed Council will enhance its legitimacy, representativity and effectiveness in global governance.”

The Minister said South Africa welcomes the focus of Mexico on “inclusive green growth” for its Presidency of the G20 during 2012. “We intend to work with the Presidency, other G20 member countries and like-minded countries to ensure that green growth is not misunderstood or abused by others to impose additional conditionalities on Low Income Countries (LICs) in the area of overseas development assistance (ODA).

“South Africa regards the Green Economy as a tool to assist the globe in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We acknowledge that every country, according to its own level of development and capacities, may view the Green Economy differently. The approach offered by the Green Economy could prove useful in assisting with the implementation of policies that provide incentives to production, consumption and resilient economic development, protect and use environmental resources sustainably and promote social well-being in the short as well as the long term,” said Minister Nkoana-Mashabane.