"South Africa reiterates that Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity must be respected in terms of international law and the UN Charter," Lamola said. "We hope that the Syrian people will soon begin an inclusive and Syrian-led dialogue that will lead to a peaceful transition and pave the way for a sustainable political solution reflective of the will of the Syrian people."
"South Africa calls on other countries to avoid exploiting the current situation for their narrow geopolitical interests. In particular, Israel must refrain from its attacks on Syria and allow the Syrian people the space and opportunity to extricate themselves from the current situation. Finally, South Africa re-emphasizes that there can be no military solution to the Syrian crisis," he said.