§ 9. Mr. Ioan L. Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards South African occupation of Namibia; and if he will make a statement.
§ 18. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to accept the opinion of the International Court on the illegality of the occupation of Namibia by South Africa.
§ Mr. EvansI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. I hope that regard will be paid to what we as a party have committed ourselves to, namely, that we accept the opinion of the International Court that the régime in Namibia is an illegal one. Does my right hon. Friend realise that the system of apartheid, which he has so recently condemned, is being extended in Namibia, that this is an international territory, and that we should recognise the rôle of the United Nations in it?
Mr. CallaghanWithout anticipating the statement which I hope to make later, may I say now that our aim is self-determination and independence for the people of Namibia? We are anxious to play our part in the international community in helping to bring that about. Apart from that, I note what my hon. Friend has said.
§ Mr. HooleyIs my right hon. Friend aware that we hope that "shortly" means shortly, since the advisory opinion was handed down three years ago and has since been endorsed by the Security Council and the General Assembly, and that our equivocal position does no good to Britain's standing in Africa as a whole?