Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo expressed his deep concern about the surprise airstrikes against Iraq during a meeting with the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America, in Pretoria today.
Minister Nzo said that South Africa was fully supportive of all United Nations Security Council resolutions on the need for Iraq to comply. However, South Africa did not believe that the use of force would resolve the outstanding issues relating to the activities of the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency in that country. The lack of unanimity by the members the United Nations Security Council, on the decision to strike, was of concern to the South African Government. Furthermore, Minister Nzo said that these actions would inevitably lead to greater human suffering for the people of Iraq.
Minister Nzo again called on all sides to seek a negotiated settlement and to avoid any further actions which would aggravate tensions in the region.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
17 DECEMBER 1998