8 April 2002
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the invitation by the United Nations Human Rights Council to Cyril Ramaphosa to participate in the fact-finding mission into the Palestinian-Israeli violence.
The invitation is an expression of confidence in the ability of South Africans to contriubte positively to global peace and security in general and the Middle East peaCe process in particular.
The situtaion between Palestine and Israel has deteriorated into an ever-growing cycle of retributive violence from which neither side can emerge victorious.
We express our hope that the three-person fact-finding mission will be given an opportunity by Isreal and Palestine to obtain its objectives.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs