§ 1. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made by the contact group towards securing the independence of Namibia.
§ 3. Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the current position of the progress of Namibia to independence.
§ 12. Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress being made towards an agreed and internationally recognised settlement in Namibia.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Francis Pym)Most of the issues covered by the United Nations plan have been resolved during recent informal consultations between the Western Five and representatives of the front-line States and SWAPO. On 1 October I reviewed progress with other Foreign Ministers of the Five, and we issued a communiqué. With permission, I shall circulate the text in the Official Report.
§ Mr. HooleyIs the Secretary of State aware that, while this gentle dialogue goes on amiably year after year, thousands of people are being massacred and murdered by South African troops in both Angola and Namibia—
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonRubbish.
§ Mr. Hooley—and that the economy of Angola is being destroyed by constant incursions by the regular forces of South Africa? What pressure is being brought on South Africa to deal honestly and straightforwardly with this matter?
§ Mr. PymThe hon. Gentleman is right to say that discussions on a solution for Namibia have been going on for a very long time. However, in recent months there has undoubtedly been a general desire on all sides, including the South African Government, to try to bring the dispute to a conclusion. The discussions that have taken place under the auspices of the United Nations and the other negotiations in this respect have been making progress. Most of the outstanding problems have now been resolved, but that does not mean that the matter has been brought to a conclusion. However, there are hopeful prospects. We shall give the fullest support that we can to all our friends in the region. Much depends in this case, as in many others, on the negotiations of the United States with both Angola and South Africa. Progress is being made. I can only say that I hope that in due course it will be brought to a successful conclusion this time.
§ Mr. Michael MorrisIs it not unfair to the ordinary people of Namibia that the continuing prejudices of the United Nations General Assembly and the procrastination by SWAPO should prevent direct elections? Is it not time that Her Majesty's Government took the initiative over the independence of Namibia, perhaps by providing leadership in terms of international loans for much-needed infrastructure in that country?
§ Mr. PymMy hon. Friend's last suggestion may have some effect when a settlement is reached. No one could possibly claim that success has yet been achieved, but I have been doing precisely what my hon. Friend suggests. I have been giving such leadership as I can, together with the other members of the Five, and progress is being made. I am doing all that I can to maintain that progress.
§ Mr. Temple-MorrisDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the long and continuing delay here is harmful to our relations with other African States, not to mention the fact that it represents a running sore at various international conferences? Does he further agree that the danger now is that this delay on the part of the West may appear to be deliberate? Will he urge our American friends, linkage or no linkage, to get a move on?
§ Mr. PymThey are doing that. I do not accept my hon. Friend's strictures. This is a long-outstanding dispute, and deep conflicting interests have to be reconciled. That is why it has proved to be so difficult. However, there is now an opportunity of its being brought to a successful conclusion, and we are doing our best to further that aim.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisDoes the Secretary of State agree that linkage is the latest excuse among many for many years now on the part of South Africa to delay further freedom for Namibia? Does he agree with Mr. Cheysson that linkage is unacceptable, which is the view of France, West Germany and Canada? If so, what will he do to hasten a solution to this matter? Will he entertain the idea of sanctions against South Africa if delay continues?
§ Mr. PymSanctions would not be helpful. The French Foreign Minister and I, together with other members of the contact group, recognise that the Cuban withdrawal does not fall within Security Council resolution 435. The collective efforts of the Five are confined to a search for a Namibian settlement. However, the Five share the objective of achieving an early solution to the problem and recognise that a settlement would strengthen peace and security and foster economic development in the region. We must also take into account the political realities in South Africa, and that we are undoubtedly doing.
I hope that the House will be satisfied by the progress that has been made. Until success can be achieved, which is by no means certain, I am naturally cautious, but between us all I believe that everything possible is being done to that end.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonI have recently returned from Namibia—[Interruption.] Labour Members are not prepared to go there.
Is my right hon. friend aware that one of the glaring omissions from his answer to the original question is that there has not been any meaningful contact between the contact Five and the internal parties of Namibia, which represent parties of both Left and Right? The Namibians, who are trying to achieve democracy within Namibia, take that as a grave exception. In addition, it is felt that the United Kingdom should have done more to deplore the United Nations General Assembly's support of SWAPO, which represents people who live outside, and not inside, Namibia.
§ Mr. PymThere are undoubtedly other ways in which negotiations could have been conducted. My hon. Friend has a point of view, which I recognise. The contact Five have discussed how best to proceed with the negotiations and have decided that the United States should continue to play a predominant role vis-a-vis Angola and South Africa. We have had discussions with the front-line States' leaders at the United Nations, and we felt that was the best way to achieve success.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonWhat about internal parties?
§ Mr. PymMy hon. Friend has a view about how it might be done. We have discussed how to bring the extremely complex and difficult consultations to a successful conclusion and have proceeded on that basis.
The following is the communiqué:
The Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States and the State Secretary of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany met in New 349 York on 1 October to take stock of the progress made in the Namibia negotiations since their previous meeting in Luxembourg on 18 May.The Ministers reviewed the consultations which took place during July and August in New York between the Contact Group and representatives of the Front Line States and SWAPO, and the concurrent consultations with South Africa. They expressed satisfaction with the results of these discussions.The Ministers welcomed the agreement of the parties to the negotiations to the Constitutional Principles for the Namibia Constituent Assembly. They noted that all parties had agreed that the method to be ,employed to elect the Constituent Assembly would be decided in accordance with the terms of UNSCR 435, and insisted that the issue should not cause delay in the implementation of UNSCR 435. They expressed appreciation of the constructive and flexible attitude of the parties, which enabled substantial progress to be made on impartiality and the size, composition and deployment of the military component of UNTAG. They noted that, on September 24, representatives of the Front Line States, Nigeria, SWAPO and the Contact Group had reported to the Secretary-General on the results of the consultations which had taken place.The Ministers reiterated their commitment to the early implementation of SCR 435 in order to enable the people of Namibia to exercise their right to self-determination and to bring peace and security to the region. They paid tribute to the efforts already made by the Secretary-General and his staff and agreed that arrangements for the implementation of the plan were proceeding satisfactorily.The Ministers agreed that a valuable opportunity now existed to achieve a settlement within the time frame envisaged which would strengthen peace and security and foster economic development in the region. They noted that the objective of achieving such a settlement was shared by all Contact Group governments.