Russian Consulate in Cape Town

✍🏻Op-Ed by Ambassador of Russia to South Africa Ilya Rogachev (12 June 2024) READ IN FULL 💬Those who try to look solid in their pro-Ukrainian (and anti-Russian) deliberations often put forward false arguments about the nature of the Ukraine conflict, or groundlessly accuse our country of breaching the International Law. In particular, Russia is blamed for alleged violation of the Budapest memorandum with regard to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and the UN Charter. Key points: ❌These narratives only work where there’s lack of factual knowledge. ☝🏻According to the Declaration of State Sovereignty of 1990, the independent Ukraine was to become a permanently neutral state, not participating in military blocs and free of nuclear weapons. Ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious rights of all national minorities of Ukraine were guaranteed by its Constitution. 🔹The 2014 coup in Ukraine and the subsequent events drastically changed the country. Kiev unleashed hostilities against its own population in the country’s South-East, renounced its neutral status and declared its intention to acquire nuclear weapons. ♟Ukraine’s hardships do not stem from Kiev being a signatory to the Budapest memorandum, rather from the loss of sovereignty and becoming someone else’s pawn in geopolitical games.

On June 12, Russian Consulate General held a reception on the occasion of the Russian National Day. This event was attended by South African officials, representatives of the Consular Corps, Russian compatriots, community activists, media & business officers. It was emphasised, that the foreign diplomats of all BRICS countries officially represented in Cape Town attended the event. During the reception, footage of the Russian regions and natural wonders as well as the 2023 A.Stenin International Press Photo Contest winners, were showcased. The guests were offered specialties of Russian national cuisine. An opera singer Sipho Qabithole performed national anthems of the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa. The attendance of South African officials, partners and friends underlined the high level of relations between Russia and South Africa despite any pressure from the countries conducting policy of preservation of the neo-colonial world order.

🇷🇺 Happy #RussiaDay! As per tradition, on this day we share a video love letter to our Motherland — #IloveRussia! #RussiaDay#RussiaDay2024

🇷🇺Article by Ambassador of Russia to South Africa Ilya Rogachev ‘National Sovereignty – the Pillar of Russia’s Statehood’ (12 June 2024) READ IN FULL Key points: 🔹The present-day collective West’s policies to redistribute the resources of the rest of the world in its own favour, leading to the increased global inequality, is no different from what was formerly known as colonialism – but with more subtle instruments. 🔹The true independence for many countries, including economically developed ones, is yet to be achieved. 🔹 Since over 1,100 years ago, we have firmly learned that erosion of our state and neglect of our national interests even for a limited period of time are mortally dangerous for our country. 🔹Throughout its history, Russia had to defend its sovereignty, opposed the attempts to subdue it many times – during the Times of Troubles, Napoleon’s invasion, during the Russian Civil War and the World War II. 🔹Today Russia is fighting to defend its sovereignty again, with Ukraine conflict being an episode of this struggle. 🔹The majority of nations in the Global South and the Global East tired of the collective West’s arrogance also stand up for strengthening their independence and against double standards, imposed values, manipulations and unequal partnerships.

🇷🇺 Happy Russia Day! #RussiaDay#Russia1Love#IloveRussia#WeAreRussia#RussiaDay2024

🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at an extended meeting with the participation of the Foreign Ministers from the Global South and the Global East(June 11, 2024, Nizhny Novgorod) 💬 Welcome to Russia and Nizhny Novgorod, a beautiful city, the beauty of which and the feelings of the residents of which you had the chance to enjoy yesterday. Today’s meeting reflects the efforts of #BRICS members to develop ties with the stakeholder countries from the Global South and the Global East, the countries of the Global Majority, in order to identify solutions to the most pressing global issues faced by all members of the international community without exception. We are witnessing a profound transformation of international relations triggered by the formation of a fairer and polycentric system of international order, which would reflect the entire gamut of cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern-day world and ensure the right of every nation to determine its own future and its own path of development. The stronger voice of the Global Majority, i.e. the countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, which are not part of the collective West, is a major trend now. Only by uniting our ranks can we truly effectively promote a vision of a just future shared by all of us. In this context, it is important to strengthen the role of the country-to-country groups that advocate balanced and equitable approaches to international development. We are talking about the formats which reflect the principles of equitable cooperation in practice rather than in words. These include, along with BRICS, #SCO, #AfricanUnion, #EAEU, #CIS, #ASEAN, #LAS, #CELAC, #GCC, #IORA and many other organisations. The chairs of many of these organisations are here with us. We believe it is important to establish contacts between all such integration entities which operate at regional levels, on the one hand, and our global association BRICS, on the other hand. This will promote gradual and mutually respectful harmonisation of approaches to the issues facing all associations. The strengthening the international legal framework and collective decision-making on global issues is now at the forefront. Only in this case will those decisions be effective and legitimate. This principle is laid down in the UN Charter. Unfortunately, the collective West’s decisions, especially in the economy, finance, trade and more, increasingly fail to comply with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. Our countries have largely overlapping approaches to reforming the system of multilateral institutions, including the UN and the UN Security Council, as well as addressing the post-pandemic recovery of the global economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals approved by the UN General Assembly. 🤝 We look forward to discussing all these issues today.

❗️ The World Bank has raised its growth forecast for the Russian economy in 2024 to 2.9% from 1.3% earlier Subscribe to @sputnik_africa 🔸TikTok | Sputnik Africa | Boost us on Telegram🔸

❗️ ❗️ ❗️Russia and South Africa are “very, very good friends” and this will remain after recent elections in the rainbow nation, SA Foreign Minister says The two countries work closely together in many areas, including water sciences, pharmaceuticals, medical sciences, and space exploration, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation told Sputnik Africa. “Russian businesses have also invested in South Africa, in the fuel sector, in energy, in minerals, and play a very critical role in helping to create jobs for South Africans and to grow our economy. So, we have a very positive relationship and we're happy about that,” Naledi Pandor said. She assured that the bilateral relations won’t change after elections in SA that were held two weeks ago where the ruling African National Congress (ANC) got the largest number of votes but didn’t get the majority, though, and thus needs to form a coalition. “We’re not negotiating as a junior partner, but we're also not being arrogant in the negotiations. But we're very clear on our foreign policy. You can't have a South Africa that would be negative or hostile about Russia. Russia played a very important role in the freedom struggle, supporting the liberation movements. There's no way that with a government led by the ANC that we would have some negative attitude in foreign policy toward Russia,” Pandor stated. Subscribe to @sputnik_africa 🔸TikTok | Sputnik Africa🔸

📸 Heads of delegations take part in the #FamilyPhoto ceremony ahead of the "BRICS Plus" Ministerial Meeting 📍Nizhny Novgorod, June 11 #BRICS2024

Уважаемые посетители, Генеральное консульство будет закрыто 12 июня в связи с государственным праздником - Днём России. *** Dear visitors, Consulate General of Russia will be closed on June 12 due to the public holiday - Russian National Day.

Foreign Minister S.Lavrov’s opening remarks during a meeting with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the RSA N.Pandor on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting, Nizhny Novgorod, June 10: "I am pleased that we could convene for a bilateral meeting during the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting. Thank you for joining us here in Nizhny Novgorod. We prioritise the advancement of our bilateral partnership. Regular interactions occur between the presidents of Russia and South Africa, reflecting the strength of our relationship. It is crucial for us to review progress and assess the implementation of the agreements they have reached. First and foremost, we want to express our support for the African National Congress and the recent elections. We are confident that we will maintain our friendly and stable relations. This commitment has been reaffirmed by both us and our South African counterparts. We are prepared for further progress in the advancement of our bilateral partnership."

The Washington post: "The Biden administration will allow a Ukrainian military unit [the "Azov" battalion] with a checkered past to use U.S. weaponry, the State Department said Monday, having lifted a ban imposed years ago amid concerns in Washington about the group’s origins." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/06/10/azov-brigade-ukraine-us-weapons/) According to The Washington post, "the State Department found “no evidence” of such violations [being Nazism apologists], its statement says." It always happens, when the blind eye is turned. The “Azov” regiment well known for its defeat and total surrender at the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol is a notorious Nazi battalion bragging about being apologists of the racist ideology (their tattoos and patches speak for themselves). It was recognized even by the Western media (the Internet remembers). A remarkable example - an article titled "Ukraine’s Azov Battalion denied US arms over antisemitic history" (https://www.thejc.com/news/ukraines-azov-battalion-denied-us-arms-over-antisemitic-history-rkk9tyy4) The Western media made a U-turn after the beginning of the Special Military Operation and started to call pure Nazis the “freedom fighters”. Highly likely, this is what current Western elites consider freedom fighters. With the neo-Nazi Wolfsangel symbol on its unit flash – which resembles a black swastika on a yellow background – this regiment was called a “neo-Nazi paramilitary militia” by some of the US Congressmen and at some point the Congress passed a resolution intended to block American military funding for Ukraine from being used to provide training or weaponry for the “Azov” battalion. Here is a documentary on the activities of the infamous “Azov” squad: https://rtd.rt.com/films/azovs-last-stand/ In the dry residue: the US provides weapon to those used to be considered Nazis by the US itself. This is what a "rules-based order" means. The rules are established under some circumstances, but can be easily changed if it seems to be profitable. This is what the US wants to become a lifestyle for the entire world except Washington.