https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230709/south-african-president-confirms-physical-format-of-upcoming-brics-summit-1060437100.html
South African President Confirms 'Physical' Format of Upcoming BRICS Summit
South African President Confirms 'Physical' Format of Upcoming BRICS Summit
Sputnik Africa
South Africa is expected to host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China at the 15th BRICS summit, scheduled to take place in August in Johannesburg... 09.07.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-07-09T18:57+0200
2023-07-09T18:57+0200
2023-08-03T15:23+0200
southern africa
south africa
cyril ramaphosa
brics
brics summit
international criminal court (icc)
arrest
vladimir putin
2023 brics summit in johannesburg
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e7/07/09/1060438681_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ccf1518bb31c49a3467db2bb1a05d9b5.jpg
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday confirmed that next month's BRICS summit, to which all leaders of the member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have been invited, will be "physical."The president recalled that the economic bloc hadn't held an offline summit for almost three years, reiterating that the forthcoming meeting won't be virtual. He highlighted that all the BRICS member states want to hold a meeting during which participants and leaders are "able to eyeball each other" and communicate.However, he didn't elaborate on Putin's participation in the summit. The ICC, whose jurisdiction Russia does not recognize, issued a warrant for the arrest of the Russian head of state and Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova on March 17. Moscow slammed the move as unlawful. South Africa, as a member of the organization, would be required to arrest Putin if he attends the gathering. According to Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, the country is fully aware of its obligations to the ICC, and is trying to resolve the matter.Earlier this month, President Ramaphosa submitted a confidential affidavit responding to the opposition party Democratic Alliance's (DA) court application on how the government should deal with an ICC arrest warrant for the Russian leader in the run-up to this year's BRICS summit.The presidential spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed Ramaphosa's response to the DA’s court case, stressing that the president is obliged to keep his affidavit confidential. He also noted that, as of now, the government is beyond weighing up legal solutions to the issue of the Russian president's visit to the meeting, adding that a final decision would soon be announced by President Ramaphosa.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230701/south-african-president-submits-confidential-affidavit-over-putins-icc-arrest-warrant-1060270018.html
southern africa
south africa
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2023
News
en_EN
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
southern africa, south africa, cyril ramaphosa, brics, brics summit, international criminal court (icc), arrest, vladimir putin
southern africa, south africa, cyril ramaphosa, brics, brics summit, international criminal court (icc), arrest, vladimir putin
South African President Confirms 'Physical' Format of Upcoming BRICS Summit
18:57 09.07.2023 (Updated: 15:23 03.08.2023) South Africa is expected to host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China at the 15th BRICS summit, scheduled to take place in August in Johannesburg. Speculation over the format came as part of the controversy over Vladimir Putin's participation, which is currently under question due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday confirmed that next month's BRICS summit, to which all leaders of the member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have been invited, will be "physical."
"The BRICS summit is going ahead and we are finalizing our discussions on the format," he told journalists on the sidelines of a ruling African National Congress (ANC) meeting, adding: "We are going to have a physical BRICS summit."
The president recalled that the economic bloc hadn't held an offline summit for almost three years, reiterating that the forthcoming meeting won't be virtual. He highlighted that all the BRICS member states want to hold a meeting during which participants and leaders are "able to eyeball each other" and communicate.
However, he didn't elaborate on Putin's participation in the summit. The ICC, whose jurisdiction Russia
does not recognize, issued a warrant for the arrest of the Russian head of state and Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova on March 17. Moscow slammed the move as unlawful.
South Africa, as a member of the organization, would be required to arrest Putin if he attends the gathering. According to Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, the country is fully aware of its obligations to the ICC, and is trying to resolve the matter.
Earlier this month, President Ramaphosa submitted a
confidential affidavit responding to the opposition party Democratic Alliance's (DA) court application on how the government should deal with an ICC arrest warrant for the Russian leader in the run-up to this year's BRICS summit.
The presidential spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed Ramaphosa's response to the DA’s court case, stressing that the president is obliged to keep his affidavit confidential. He also noted that, as of now, the government is beyond weighing up
legal solutions to the issue of the Russian president's visit to the meeting, adding that a final decision would soon be announced by President Ramaphosa.
