Director of International Coordination at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Zaheer Laher tells the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria that this approach is central to South Africa’s participation as a rotating member of the United Nations Security Council.

A quarter of the way through South Africa’s two year term on the United Nations powerhouse, the Institute for Security Studies is hosting a forum looking at how its has been doing.

DIRCO’s top international relations official Zaheer Laher says there’s been criticism about advocating more talks rather punitive action on Venezuela.

“Part of the process, political dialogue would have come in almost every intervention we have made in the Security Council in the last six months and in our previous terms on the body. This is not an accident, South Africa will always emphasize the importance of political dialogue,” he says

Recent action, including Norway’s involvement as mediator in Venezuela, has vindicated South Africa’s support for dialogue rather than the big stick.

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