South African Embassy in Sofia Ends Consular Services, Refers Citizens to Athens
The South African Embassy in Sofia has officially discontinued its consular services as of March 17, 2025
"The Dalai Lama is more than free, like any other citizen of the globe, who would want to visit our country," Nkoana-Mashabane said. Photo by BGNES
South Africa's government has claimed that Tibet's spiritual leader can now visit the country whenever he wanted.
This was announced Friday by the new International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, as cited by the BBC.
The government caused an international outcry when it said it would not allow him to attend a peace conference in March, linked to the 2010 Football World Cup.
The visa ban prompted Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former South African President FW de Klerk to pull out of the conference for Nobel laureates, forcing organisers to postpone it indefinitely.
Despite the furor at the time, government spokesman Thabo Masebe said no visa would be issued "between now and the World Cup", which South Africa is hosting. The government said his presence would distract attention from the World Cup - the first to be held in Africa.
"The Dalai Lama is more than free, like any other citizen of the globe, who would want to visit our country," Nkoana-Mashabane said.
On the 40th day of the longest government shutdown in US history, senators returned to Washington on Sunday for a rare weekend session to vote on advancing a House-approved spending bill
Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has described Germany’s misunderstanding of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions as one of the greatest failures in the country’s foreign policy
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has criticized Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after his recent remarks to a German publication about selling ammunition to European Union countries
The European Commission has introduced stricter rules on issuing visas to Russian citizens
Romania has urged the United States to reconsider its plan to withdraw hundreds of troops stationed in the country, warning that such a move could undermine NATO’s unity and play into Russia’s hands
Russia currently has the capacity to carry out a limited strike on NATO territory at any time, although whether it will do so depends largely on the stance of Western allies
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