Hon Speaker, South Africa, as a constitutional state, would really like to know what the President actually said to Muammar Gaddafi. Recently, BBC monitoring has reported that Libyan TV has been quoting President Zuma as saying:
Stressing the need to depend on tendentious reports circulated by foreign media outlets
... during a phone call with Gaddafi.
President Zuma was also reported to have called on the African Union to "take decisive action and uncover the conspiracy that Libya is facing."
This alleged conversation is alarming, as the government, through the United Nations Security Council, is condemning the killing of people and denouncing the use of violence. On the other hand, it might also be saying the opposite in private. These acts of violence undermine human rights and threaten the lives of innocent citizens. Cope supports the need to protect human rights and human lives.
The President of South Africa must stand squarely behind the international position, and not be seen as providing any sort of comfort to Gaddafi - who has been using war planes and tanks and has heavy armaments to attack civilians. If government is using a double standard on this issue, our Constitution, as well as the principle of foreign policy, which stresses strong respect for human rights and democracy, will be severely compromised. We cannot be a laughing stock within the nations comprising the United Nations Security Council. Loss of civilian life on any scale cannot be justified. Cope insists that a crystal-clear message emanates from the President. South Africa's position should come first. I thank you. [Applause.]