Pretoria will defend its sovereignty and dignity while seeking solutions to tensions with Washington, Cyril Ramaphosa has said
South Africa will continue engaging with the US despite new visa restrictions imposed by Washington, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said, insisting Pretoria will defend its sovereignty and dignity in negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the targeted restrictions last week against foreign nationals whom Washington says are responsible for, or complicit in, policies involving uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination and the incitement of violence against minority groups in South Africa. No individuals were named when the policy was announced.
Ramaphosa was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the ANC Veterans League fundraising golf day at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead on Monday. He said the government had taken note of the restrictions but remained prepared to engage with Washington. ”We are quite willing and prepared to continue engaging with the United States as we engage with all other countries in the world,” the president noted.
”Where there are challenges, we will go in with our dignity, with our sovereignty to engage with those countries without bowing our heads and treating those nations respectfully and expecting them to treat us also respectfully,” Ramaphosa added.
READ MORE: ‘Apartheid 2.0’: South Africa condemns US refugee program
The president said the US remained an important market for South Africa and that both countries had products they needed from each other. He also said discussions between South Africa and the US had been under way for some time, including on trade and tariff issues. The US had also raised ”the so-called five issues”, and South Africa had responded to a number of them, he stressed.
Read more Trump vs. South Africa: Who is winning the clash over ‘white genocide’?Asked what had happened to the discussions, given the latest announcement, Ramaphosa answered he could not explain what had prompted the move. ”So I just don’t know what happened. Only they can answer and say what exactly happened,” he said.
Ramaphosa noted South Africa remained willing to negotiate with the US to resolve the challenges in the relationship. ”We also trade with them and there are certain things or products that they need from us that we also need from them,” he said. ”So that in itself should bring about the state of equilibrium. So as we deal with each other, as states that respect each other, we will find solutions.”
First published by IOL
Hence then, the article about south africa won t bow its head in us talks president was published today ( ) and is available on Russia Today ( News ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( South Africa won’t ‘bow its head’ in US talks – president )
Also on site :
- HDFC Bank Limited Sued for Securities Law Violations - Contact the DJS Law Group to Discuss Your Rights - HDB
- Anne Hathaway Will Campaign This Awards Season in an Unexpected Category, 13 Years After Her Oscar Win
- Quote of the Day: Cleanthes Worked Night Shifts as a Water Carrier to Study Philosophy by Day. Then He Took Over Ancient Greece’s Leading Stoic School