Edited for length
The South African government has rejected a request from the United States to close Iraqi missions and to expel senior officials in this country. Speaking to journalists at Parliament after Cabinet's fortnightly meeting, government representative Joel Netshitenzhe said South Africa's actions would be guided by decisions taken by the United Nations. "And because there has not been any such decision by the United Nations, we do not see any reason to break our diplomatic relations with the state of Iraq. A formal response to this effect will be communicated as soon as possible to the US administration."
Hey, no skin off my fore. Just as long as we know which side you're on...
The US approach was based on the premise that the Iraqi government was both illegal and illegitimate, and needed to be overthrown. "On that account, they believe that other countries should not have relations with them (Iraq). But, as I have indicated, we will be guided on this by positions of the United Nations, and, most critically, Iraq remains a member of the United Nations, and the issue of the legality of the Iraqi state has not arisen there," he said. South Africa is one of more than 60 countries petitioned by the US government to shut Iraqi missions, pending the outcome of the US and British-led war in that country. Netshitenzhe said the vast majority of those countries had taken the same position as South Africa. |