LONDON. May 11 (Interfax) - The chancellery of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said it was disappointed with the U.S. decision to make a statement on the supposed provision of weapons to Russia from South African arsenals, characterizing such allegations as unfounded.
"It is public knowledge that a Russian vessel known as Lady R docked in South Africa. Allegations have since been made about the purpose of the voyage. While no evidence has been provided to date to support these allegations, the government has undertaken to institute an independent enquiry to be led by a retired judge," the chancellery said.
It stated that the allegations of U.S. Ambassador to the South African Republic Reuben Brigety that the African country provided weapons and munitions to Russia undermine the spirit of partnership between the United States and South Africa.
"The ambassador's remarks undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterized the recent engagements between US government officials and a South African official delegation," the statement said.
The chancellery said the United States and South Africa had earlier reached an agreement that Washington would allow its South African partners to investigate the situation around the Lada R calmly. "There was an agreement that [...] the U.S. intelligence services will provide whatever evidence [is] in their possession," the report said.
At the same time, U.S. Department of State representative Vedant Patel said on Thursday the United States was concerned about the Lada R story and was in dialogue with South Africa on the matter.
"As we have previously said, the U.S. has serious concerns about the docking of a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel at a South African naval port in December of last year. And as good partners we have raised those concerns directly with South African officials," Patel told a press briefing.
The South African media earlier reported that Brigety had accused South Africa of allegedly supplying weapons and munitions to Russia last year.
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