He was speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York as the first of migrants started arriving in Rwanda.

Rwanda’s taking in the migrants as part of a deal with the African Union and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Most of them are from the Horn of Africa.

Libya reached a deal with the European Union to keep the migrants from crossing the Mediterranean into their territory.

President Paul Kagame insists his efforts to end the migrants’ misery in Libya does not involve him  taking any money from the EU 

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The wind picks up on the sea these late summer evenings, whipping up the waves. If one hopes  to navigate the Mediterranean with any safety in a small boat, it had best be before winter turns the water colder and rougher.

So this is a crucial time for those fleeing conflict and persecution back home – or simply wishing to feed a family – by crossing the Mediterranean and finding shelter in Europe.

Indeed it is crunch time for refugees everywhere as the spotlight is turned on them by the United Nations General Assembly starting in New York.

The bigoted Matteo Salvini , who aligned himself with United States President Donald Trump in making cruelty a policy for deterring migrants, has disappeared for now as Italy’s Interior Minister. 

The full effect of this has yet to be revealed.

But for now captains of rescue ships do not risk imprisonment by taking aboard those cynically thrown to their fate by people smugglers. 

Some relief then for those taking this route to Europe. Their numbers have dramatically diminished:About a tenth of the number crossing  three year ago. But the Mediterranean  claims proportionately more of their lives.

Thanks to the efforts of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, fewer of them will be taken to Libya where they face detention in appalling conditions or worse.

The country rendered ungovernable after the fall of Muammar Gadaffi is no longer an easy option for European countries trying to reduce the migrant wave.

This does not mean European countries will take appreciably more people from Africa and the Middle East.

No more than the United States will welcome those from Central and South American countries seeking safer, better lives.

Indeed, South Africa will not be able to take in all those Africans coming  across the Limpopo and the Kruger National Park.

One must hope an international understanding can be reached that there is a universal responsibility to provide a refuge.

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Kiev’s chief envoy in Pretoria Liubov Abravitova says she’s looking for South Africa to support punitive measures against Moscow’s violation of international law.

Liubov Abravitova  says South Africa is forced  to take a more considered view of international affairs as it takes up its rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council for the third time.

She’s expecting dramatically increased support for sanctions against Russia for violating international law by annexing Crimea in its aggression against Ukraine

She’s looking to South Africa to support tough measures like a trade boycott, despite its close ties with Russia through the BRICS grouping.

At very least she would expect South Africa to abstain in a vote on sanctions against Russia.

Abravitova says she building a permanent channel of communication with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to pass on Ukraine’s message to South Africa

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He says by embracing populist nationalism and rejecting rules-based multi-lateralism, US President Donal Trump is risking this.

Speaking at meeting of South African envoys and foreign diplomats, Aziz Pahad, who heads the foreign policy review panel, labelled President Donald Trump’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly the most undiplomatic and belligerent address the world organization has heard.

He compared it to Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev removing his shoe and banging it on the table in the 60s and says its a new level of debate that does not bode well for a stable future.

Pahad says Trump is making the Middle East even more explosive and risks nuclear holocaust – intentional or unintentional – with China and Russia.

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He says South Africa will use its two—year term on the UN powerhouse to advance African interests and resolve regional, global and international conflicts.

ends intro

This is the third time South Africa’s been elected as a rotating member of the UN’s top body.

The 15-nation Security Council is empowered to impose sanctions and approve the use of force.

Proposed by the regional body SADC and endorsed by the African Union, South Africa still needed approval of two-thirds of the 193-member  UN General Assembly  to become a council member.

In the event it gained 183 votes – one more than the previous time  it was elected in 2011 but three less than the first time in 2006. 

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Diplomats says the two-thirds majority required to qualify for the rotating seat is assured, the interesting point is how South Africa will fare in what is a diplomatic popularity contest.

Ambassador to the United Nations Jerry Matjila says South Africans can pop the champagne to celebrate another term on the world body’s powerhouse .

The question is how many more votes will garner that the 128 required.

“For 2007 we got 186, which was huge, and for 2011 it was 182 which was slightly less. Will we get fewer or more this time?” Matjila ask

Many are wondering how the US will vote with South Africa listed among those countries most likely to vote against President Donald Trump’s initiatives.

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In his debut appearance before the 193-member UN General Assembly yesterday, US President Donald Trump said the world organisation is under performing and has to put people before bureacracy.
Today he’ll spell out what the UN needs to do to continue getting 22 percent of the its budget paid by Uncle Sam.
Prime Minister Theresa May will be equally tough, saying that Britain will link a third of its contribution to the UN budget to reform and results.

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Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane says replacing Ban Ki Moon, whose term as UN boss expires at the end of the year,  will overshadow proceedings at the world organisation’s General Assembly starting next week.

South Africa’s foreign affairs chief Maite Nkoana Mashabane will accompany President Jacob Zuma to the UN General Assembly world affairs debate in New York.

She says selection of the UN Secretary General has in the past been opaque.

South Africa and other countries and non governmental organisations are pushing for this to be a more open process with a greater role for the General Assembly.

This would effectively move it away from the control of the powerful permanent members of the Security Council.

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