Ukraine: EU’s Borrell sees Mozambique’s neutrality as a position “on the side of peace”

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Ukraine: EU’s Borrell sees Mozambique’s neutrality as a position “on the side of peace”

3:29 CAT | 09 Sep 2022

Photo: Lusa

The European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell considers that it cannot be said “that Mozambique is on the side of the aggressor”, but rather “on the side of peace”, and respects the country’s position as independent and sovereign.

Speaking in Maputo at the start of a two-day visit to Mozambique this Thursday, European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell qualified Mozambique’s neutrality as a position “on the side of peace” in the war in Ukraine, almost three months after having criticised those professing neutrality.

Josep Borrell had told a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, on 16 June, that “being neutral in this case means being on the side of the aggressor”.

This Thursday, after a meeting with the Mozambican president, Borrell said that “it cannot be said that Mozambique is on the side of the aggressor”, stressing that the country “is on the side of peace”, therefore “it cannot be on the side of those who started a war”.

“We respect the position of Mozambique, an independent and sovereign country,” Borrell said in reply to a question by Lusa, adding that the dialogue between the EU and Maputo on positions relating to Ukraine had allowed for an understanding to be reached.

Verónica Macamo, who accompanied Borrell in his statements to the press after yesterday’s meeting with Filipe Nyusi, reiterated the Mozambican position on Ukraine: “We are not in favour of war, we are for dialogue.”

In early March, just days after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the overwhelming majority of member states in the United Nations General Assembly – 141 out of 193 – condemned Moscow’s action, with Mozambique and Angola among the countries that abstained.

After Thursday’s meeting with the Mozambican head of state, the head of European diplomacy said that Mozambique “is a reliable partner” with which, for the sake of global stability, the EU wants to “deepen” relations.

On Friday, Borrell will deliver non-warfare equipment to support the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado.

In the face of aggression, no one can be neutral. No one can live safely in a world where the illegal use of force is normalised or tolerated.

I urged all participants to help end the war, to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and to ensure that the global fallout is contained. pic.twitter.com/69mrrIaJSI

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 8, 2022