Chairperson, I would like to respond to two statements please, one by the hon Leon and the other by the hon Skosana - with your permission. In the first instance, I really do think it is disingenuous of the hon Leader of the Opposition to talk about South Africa's role in Darfur in that way.
We, as South Africa, are very active members of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. Our President is currently in Addis Ababa to attend meetings of this council, an important organ of the AU. This matter of Darfur is one of the many things that the council discusses and it is always attempting, in that forum, to resolve these issues.
South Africa has been an active supporter and advocate of the United Nations and African Union resolutions in favour of assistance from the United Nations to the African Union force that is currently in Darfur to defuse the situation. The same could be said about Somalia, where we continue to play a role in the resolution of the problems.
Now, unlike the DA, the ANC-led government approaches problems on the continent in such a way as to resolve them through dialogue and the multilateral instruments at our disposal, and not to add fuel to the fire.
Regarding the second point, I would like to thank the hon Skosana for his congratulations to South Africa on being elected as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council. South Africa is, indeed, very proud to be a member of the Security Council for the next two years. We will use this opportunity to promote the issues that confront us on the African continent, as suggested by the hon Skosana.
I would like to say that 186 countries out of a possible 192 voted to endorse South Africa's position in the Security Council. This is a factor which we believe endorses the work that we do at the United Nations and we are very proud to be a member of the security council for the next two years. Thank you. [Applause.]