S.African Minister Urges UN to Uphold Territorial Integrity Principle

The UN Security Council needs to be reformed in order to become “more representative and more credible,” South African Minister of State Security David Mahlobo said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – At the fifth BRICS meeting on security in Moscow, David Mahlobo said:

"It is worse that most of the issues that are normally on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council mostly are issues that have to deal with Africa and African problems are decided in this body without Africa's involvement."

Mahlobo urged that important issues must be upheld in the UN Security Council.

"The principle of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be upheld by this important body. We condemn these attempts that we have seen over the past few years that seek to undermine these principles."

BRICS is an association of emerging national economies, comprising Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa. There is strong economic, security, environmental and energy cooperation within the group, as well as on issues of global stability, including countering international terrorism.

The UN Security Council includes five permanent and 10 non-permanent members. The latter are elected for two-year terms by UN General Assembly.

The body's main purpose is to maintain peace and stability around the globe. To reach the goal, the council can impose sanctions or even authorize the use of force.

Russia and China are UN Security Council's permanent members, alongside France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

South Africa held a non-permanent seat at the Security Council two times, in 2007 and 2010.

BRICS Key in South Africa's Foreign, Domestic Policies

South Africa has placed the BRICS initiative as one of its key issues in advancing the country’s foreign and domestic policies, David Mahlobo added.

"Our membership in BRICS is one of the most important strategic partnerships through which we pursue our foreign and domestic policy priorities. This includes areas of governance reform, issues of enhancing the African agenda by promoting peace and sustainable development and strengthening political and economic relations within BRICS partner states," Mahlobo said.

In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin said South Africa is Russia's leading partner on the African continent and that BRICS potential should be used to develop the economies of both countries.

The same month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his South African counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane agreed to promote joint Russian-South African economic projects on the African continent. The ministers called for a boost in trade, economic, mining, and energy cooperation.