Jakarta –
President of Russia Vladimir Putin certainly will not attend the summit of countries BRICS Of south Africa (South Africa) next month. This was announced by the South African presidency on Wednesday (19/7/2023), ending months of speculation.
Putin’s planned visit has become a thorny diplomatic issue for South Africa.
The leader Russia it was the target of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant — a provision South Africa is expected to implement as a member of the ICC if it ever sets foot in the country.
“By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the summit, but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister (Sergei) Lavrov,” Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said in a statement, as reported by the news agency. AFPWednesday (19/7/2023).
According to Magwenya, the decision was taken after “a number of consultations” conducted by Ramaphosa in recent months, the last one last night.
South Africa is the current chair of the BRICS grouping, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China, which is touted as a counterbalance to Western economic dominance.
Putin was officially invited to KTT BRICS which is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa between 22 and 24 August. However, the South African government is under heavy domestic and international pressure not to entertain him.
“President Ramaphosa is confident that the summit will be successful and calls on the whole nation to provide the necessary hospitality to the many delegations that will come from different parts of the continent and the world,” said Magwenya.
Previously, South Africa’s leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), tried to coerce the government and ensure that Putin was arrested and handed over to him ICC if he sets foot in the country.
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2023-07-19 11:56:07
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