President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged countries participating in the G20 summit in Pretoria to use their numbers to call for global peace and equality.
Ramaphosa maintained diplomatic calm in the face of unpredictable outbursts by US President Donald Trump telling the summit’s meeting of foreign ministers that world peace could only be achieved through dialogue and mutual respect.
While Trump has thrashed global institutions including the United Nations itself, Ramaphosa emphasised a continued need for multilateralism and said the G-20 itself should do its best to influence the direction the world takes as it represents a significant portion of the world population.
“The G20 represents over two-thirds of the world’s population. Its decisions and policies must reflect the needs and aspirations of all who form part of the G20 family,” said Ramaphosa in his opening address.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio snubbed the meeting in an apparent punitive act towards Pretoria over alleged mass killings of white Afrikaners, a claim consistently proven to be false but sold to Trump and conservatives in the US as the gospel truth.
Ramaphosa was undeterred by the Trump administration saying their absence was not “ the end of the world”.
“The absence of some leaders is not the end of the world, as long as the G20 family is able to meet, discuss important issues, and come out with a declaration,” said the President.
He stayed clear of controversy merely calling for restraint in ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine and Eastern DRC.
“South Africa welcomes the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas as a crucial first step toward ending the severe humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
The conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Sudan, in the Sahel and in Gaza continue to exact a heavy human toll and heighten global insecurity, Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa was expected to be briefed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 summit on details of talks initiated by Trump with President Vladimir Putin which excludes Ukraine President Voledimir Zelensky and the European Union which has already asked South Africa to exert pressure on Moscow to accept a settlement to the conflict.
Group of 20 commonly known as G20 is a multilateral organisation comprising 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union which has become a major lobbying platform on global issues.