Deputy Chairperson, the answer is yes. As a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the two-year period 2011 to 2012, South Africa has definitely been participating actively in all the deliberations of the council on the developments in Syria since the start of public protests in that country.
During these discussions, South Africa made it clear that it was opposed to any form of external intervention to bring about a regime change in Syria, as had happened in Libya, and that it was up to the Syrian people themselves to bring about the changes in government they desired through an all-inclusive national dialogue free of violence and intimidation. In the UN Security Council South Africa supported a draft resolution introduced by the League of Arab States which reflected this approach. It was vetoed by China and Russia. In the UN General Assembly, where there is no veto right, South Africa subsequently voted in favour of a similar resolution, which was adopted by an overwhelming majority. The answer to the second part to that question is yes. South Africa has actively engaged at a high level with the Syrian authorities in this context, both bilaterally and within the framework of the India-Brazil- South Africa, Ibsa, forum.
The situation in Syria was also discussed during a meeting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the Brics countries. Talks have also been held with the secretary-general of the League of Arab States, and those discussions continue.
Re-admission to the Bar of lawyers previously barred from practising as a result of links with liberation movements
18. Mr D V Bloem (Cope) asked the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development:
Whether his department will consider re-admitting to the Bar lawyers who were previously barred from practising as a result of their links with liberation movements; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? CO75E