ANC concerned by rapid escalation of conflict between Russian and Ukraine
27 February 2022
The ANC joins the global progressive forces in expressing deep concern about the rapid escalation of conflict between Russia and Ukraine especially against the backdrop of eight years persistent shelling of Donetsk and Lugansk. It is further appalled but not surprised by those who have been beating the drums of war when they instead should have preempted confrontation by being insistent on dialogue as a means of resolving disputes.
Hence the ANC is consistent in pursuing its international relations objectives as directed by the Freedom Charter which states that "there shall be peace and friendship". Furthermore, the ANC is committed to the values of the UN for pursuance of peaceful and diplomatic resolution of conflict. The ANC therefore is quite firm in calling for commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The ANC strongly believes that it must be the parties, who are directly involved in the conflict, that must not only commit but come to the negotiating table for resolution of such conflict. History is littered with wars that have been ended or even averted through negotiations. However the dismal failure of the UN cannot be swept under the carpet, more so that, when some World leaders are openly biased in their judgement. What is further strange, is that for over 8 years of shelling civilians-nobody has ever been investigated, prosecuted and found either guilty or innocent.
This conflict is beyond merely two countries and exposes that, in fact, the cold war has never been taken to its grave. Another tragedy is that multilateralism has been trampled upon instead of using it as tool to address such impasse.