UK praises Mbeki's peace role
2005-09-26 20:48
Johannesburg - The British government stood fully behind the peace efforts of President Thabo Mbeki in the Ivory Coast, said UK high commissioner to South Africa Paul Boateng on Monday.
He said no one had done more under such difficult circumstances than Mbeki in the Ivory Coast.
"Africa and the international community owe President Mbeki a debt of gratitude for the work he has done and continues to do," Boateng told journalists at a press club function in Johannesburg.
He said Britain was ready and willing to help in the peace process.
Mbeki was criticised a few weeks ago for alienating certain parties in the Ivory Coast peace negotiations.
There was talk in the media that he had been asked to step down as mediator in the talks.
Boateng also hailed civil society in South Africa for the role it had played in bringing attention to the economic and political crises in Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabwe is a country of enormous potential and it is a great tragedy it is being wasted."
He refused to condemn the South African government for its policy of quiet diplomacy on Zimbabwe.
"It's not for me to give lectures to the South African government on how it should conduct foreign policy."
- SAPA