SEAN MCCORMACK: Good morning, everybody. 

Yeah, I promise I'll get to you next, yeah. Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa said that they'll be seeking an apology from the U.S. after last Friday incident where Russia and China vetoed the American-proposed sanctions against President Mugabe and his people. [See here] Mr. Zalmay went out of the Security Council and start blaming South Africa for the veto, and went further to say that the President of South Africa is out of touch with his own people, and even went further to suggest that the sooner he be removed, the better. 

I mean, clearly, you know, he was biting, you know, (inaudible) true diplomatically and this was a diplomatic blunder. I mean --

MCCORMACK: On whose part? On South Africa's part for voting against the resolution?

QUESTION: No, on Mr. Zalmay, I mean, to go out of the Security Council and call (inaudible) attack the head of the state.

MCCORMACK: Look, there is a transcript of Ambassador Khalilzad's remarks. It's available for all to see. I looked at it and I don't see anything in there that merits an apology.

QUESTION: So are you going - are you not going to apologize (inaudible)?

MCCORMACK: Like I said - you know, like I said, I read the transcript. I don't see anything in there to apologize for.

QUESTION: So - but are you partly blaming South Africa for the veto of Russia and China?

MCCORMACK: Each individual state made its own decision. South Africa could have stood on the right side of history and voted for the resolution. They chose not to. Again, their decision. And let other - let people judge their action.

QUESTION: Yeah, just to follow up on my previous question --

MCCORMACK: And give me another opportunity to apologize? (Laughter.)

QUESTION: No, not really. But another opportunity to give me, you know, sort of the latest how is the diplomatic relations with South Africa following this issue of Zimbabwe. 

MCCORMACK: You know, look, we have - we have a good relationship with South Africa. We disagree sometimes, but we are able to disagree in such a way that, you know, when we do it in public, we've talked about it before in private, so it doesn't come as a surprise to either side. 

Yeah.

QUESTION: Jendayi Frazer said yesterday that there was hope when - following the March elections in South Africa, that the successor, who is likely to be Jacob Zuma, would take a harder line on Zimbabwe. Is that what you're hoping?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, in terms of elections, that's up to the South African people to decide who gets elected. I think it's only a matter of fact, if you look at the public record, that Mr. Zuma has taken a different stance than President Mbeki.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: Okay, thanks.

This is an extract from the Daily Press Briefing by spokesman for the US Department of State, Sean McCormack, Washington, DC, July 16 2008