Calling South Africans in the Gulf
20 March 2003
With the outbreak of war in Iraq, the South African government is evacuating non-essential staff from its Jordan embassy, and has called on all South Africans visiting or working in the Gulf region to register their presence at their nearest South African embassy.
The move to evacuate staff from the embassy is one of a number steps the government is taking to protect its diplomatic staff and citizens in and around the trouble-torn Gulf.
South Africa has no diplomatic mission in Baghdad, and services its diplomatic relations with Iraq through its mission in Jordan.
South African diplomatic missions in the Gulf region have requested all South Africans currently visiting or working in the region to register their presence with the nearest South African embassies, consulates or honorary consulates.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa warned that "extra care should be exercised in planning visits to the region".
Mamoepa
said on Wednesday that Foreign Affairs had yet to receive advice from its Kuwait and Syrian ambassadors on whether or not to evacuate their missions.
"The decision for possible evacuation of diplomatic staff in the region depends largely on the advice of our ambassadors based in the region," Mamoepa said.
He added that the department's task team on Iraq, led by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad, would monitor the situation, with the assistance of the country's ambassadors in the region, and keep Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma informed on developments.
Source: BuaNews
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