South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the upcoming 15th BRICS Summit by mutual agreement. Instead, the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This decision comes in light of the recent arrest warrant issued for Putin by the International Criminal Court for his involvement in the war in Ukraine.
President @CyrilRamaphosa has confirmed South Africa’s readiness to host the historic 15th Summit of BRICS nations – the first #BRICSSummit to be hosted in person since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global restrictions. https://t.co/M3GP2Qf9Ur pic.twitter.com/NV3hEwvpNW
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 19, 2023
South Africa, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, is obligated to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country. President Ramaphosa has expressed serious concerns about the potential consequences of such an arrest, as Russia has warned that it would view it as a declaration of war.
These concerns were revealed in an affidavit filed by Ramaphosa in response to a court application from the DA (Democratic Alliance), which sought to secure Putin’s arrest during the summit.
Meanwhile, The DA Leader John Steenhuisen has welcomed the announcement by the Presidency that Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa
“The DA is resolute in our stance that the South African government must not compromise its duty to uphold international law for the sake of political alliances or the ANC’s narrow financial interests. We believe that by adhering to our treaty obligations and respecting the principles of international law, we can create a more just, equitable, and respected South Africa.”
“Getting Vladimir Putin to bend the knee before the rule of law is no small feat, and the DA’s victory to keep him out of our country is a victory for South Africa.” said Steenhuisen
The BRICS leaders are scheduled to convene in South Africa from 22 to 24 August 2023 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
During the summit, the leaders will participate in various forums, such as the BRICS Business Forum and engage with the New Development Bank and BRICS Business Council.
South Africa will also conduct outreach to leaders from Africa and the global South, holding a BRICS Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue.
President Ramaphosa has held several consultations regarding the hosting of the summit in recent months. The most recent one took place at the BRICS Political Party Dialogue in Gauteng on Tuesday night.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the upcoming 15th BRICS Summit by mutual agreement
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Ramaphosa is confident that the summit will be a success and calls on the nation to extend hospitality to the delegates attending from different parts of the world.
The Presidency has indicated that a comprehensive statement covering the agenda of the summit and other foreign policy matters will be released in due course.
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