Cape Town - South Africa says it has been vindicated for its stance on the unfreezing of Libyan assets.
This follows an agreement by the US to remove any reference of the North African country's National Transitional Council (NTC) in a letter requesting the unfreezing of $1.5 billion in Libyan assets, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) said today.
"The mere fact that there was a withdrawal of the original text, suggests that we were correct in taking the stance that we took as South Africa," said Dirco spokesperson, Clayson Monyela.
Briefing media in Parliament this morning, Monyela said after the amendments were made, the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee approved the release of the $1.5 billion in frozen assets, which would be used for humanitarian purposes in Libya.
Monyela added that South Africa was the only UN Security Council member that had stood firm on calling for the removal of references to the NTC.
South Africa, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, had earlier expressed reservations on the unfreezing of the assets as a letter drafted by the UN Security Council requesting the unfreezing of the assets, had referred to the NTC, when both the UN and AU had yet to recognise the Libyan body as the country's new government.
Monyela re-emphasised that South Africa had never been against the idea of unfreezing the funds, but was concerned that any reference to the NTC may undermine attempts to unite all Libyans if reference was made to a single grouping.
"Consequently, after intensive negotiations, the United States withdrew any reference to the NTC in their letter requesting the unfreezing of the assets, thus excluding any form of recognition of the NTC through this proposal," said Monyela.
Following these amendments by the US and after consultations within the AU, South Africa had agreed to release the funds, he said.
A decision was imminent on whether South Africa would recognise the NTC, he said, as the
AU's Peace and Security Council is holding a meeting in Addis Ababa today and would make a determination on the matter.
A collective announcement by all AU members on the matter would then follow, he said.
Monyela said the South African government was concerned about the "perpetual marginalisation of the African voice" on matters affecting the continent.
"We think it is wrong and that it is about time that the African Union's voice is heard on matters on the continent, which is why we would prefer that the AU pronounces on this and then members can take their cue from the AU," he said.
South Africa wanted to see an all inclusive transitional government in Libya that would begin the process of drafting an interim constitution.
"For sustainable peace to be achieved, it is critical that the Libyans themselves assume full ownership of their future," he said.
Meanwhile, Monyela said all South African citizens had been evacuated at the beginning of the conflict, and that the last of the country's diplomats had been withdrawn last Friday from Tripoli. - BuaNews
