Foreign

GERMAN Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock plans to hold talks with her South African counterpart Naledi Pandor in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Baerbock is thought likely to raise South Africa’s policy toward Russia in the light of the invasion of Ukraine.

Pretoria maintained cordial links with Moscow and had adopted a policy of neutrality over Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited to attend a summit of the BRICS countries Brazil, India, China, Russia and South Africa in South Africa on Aug. 22-24.

This would be along with the heads of state of the others.

As the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an international warrant for Putin’s arrest on war crimes charges, and as South Africa is a party to the ICC statute.

He could face arrest as it disclosed by South Africa had not made its position clear.

An announcement from President Cyril Ramaphosa that South Africa would withdraw from the ICC was later withdrawn by his spokesman.

Last month, Ramaphosa sought to mediate in the Ukraine conflict at the head of an African delegation which visited both Ukraine and Russia.

During her visit, Baerbock was also scheduled to attend a meeting of a bilateral commission set up by Germany and South Africa in 1996, which met every two years.

Green hydrogen and skills training were on the agenda. (dpa/NAN) 

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June 27, 2023 @ 19:20 GMT|

Tags: Annalena Baerbock President Cyril Ramaphosa President Vladimir Putin