Africa News
South Africa's Zuma calls on UN to "respect" African Union
Jan 13, 2012, 10:39 GMT
Johannesburg - South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday called for closer cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, while also charging that foreign intervention was preventing conflict resolution on the continent.
Zuma issued the call after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution Thursday in which it pledged to take 'effective steps' to work better with the AU. Relations between the two bodies were strained following the conflict in Libya last year.
'We want the views of the African Union to be respected by the UN,' said Zuma in a statement.
South Africa currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council.
'Conflicts in Africa will be manageable if they are not promoted or aided from outside the continent,' added Zuma.
He also repeated his allegation that the UN resolution to set up a no-fly zone over Libya in 2011 was 'abused.'
Zuma, who headed an AU delegation to Libya seeking a negotiated solution to the conflict when it was at its peak, has said NATO went beyond the UN mandate to protect civilians and effectively took the side of the Libyan rebels.
'The lesson we should draw from the Libyan experience is that greater political coherence and a common vision between the AU and the UN are critical in the resolution of African conflicts,' Zuma said.
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