Namibia (Hansard, 23 January 1985)

§ 2. Mr. Willie W. Hamilton
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to central Africa, with particular reference to the future of Namibia.

§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Geoffrey Howe)
I visited Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya between 5 and 12 January. In each country I had discussions with the Head of State or Government, the Foreign Minister and other Ministers. Our talks covered a wide range of international, regional and bilateral issues. In all three countries, I found deep concern over Namibia. We discussed how best to achieve our common goal of ensuring early implementation of Security Council resolution 435. During my visit I was able to see something of the contributions which British industry, our aid programme and the British Council are making to the development of the three countries' economies.

§ Mr. Hamilton
I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply. Does he, with the whole of the free democratic world, deplore the continuous procastrination by the South African Government in denying Namibia the right to freedom? What steps is the right hon. and 967 learned Gentleman taking with our allies in the United States to ensure that much speedier progress is made towards that end and to ensure that increased pressure is brought to bear on the South African Government to attain that end?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
Namibia was a major topic of discussion in all those countries. Everyone agreed on the importance of early independence for Namibia on the basis of Security Council resolution 435. The main hope of achieving a settlement leading to that result lies in the current United States-led negotiations, which we support. I have urged other Governments in the region to support those negotiations. We shall continue to do everything that we can with our allies to encourage those negotiations to reach a conclusion and to move towards the implementation of Security Council resolution 435.

§ Mr. Jim Spicer
Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that, although it is fashionable to put Namibia at the top of the list, the problems posed by the complete disintegration of Mozambique must rate highly with the problems involving the Republic of Zimbabwe, because without—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The question is about Namibia.

§ Mr. Anderson
Security Council resolution 435 was passed long ago, in September 1978. Does the Foreign Secretary now understand the frustration and impatience of other African countries at the long delays? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman content with the fact that the Contact Group appears to be dormant and to rely entirely on the United States Crocker initiative, which may be construed as bypassing resolution 435? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman state that there is no linkage between the Angolan-Cuban proposals and independence for Namibia?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I certainly need no reminding of the widely felt impression about the long time taken in implementing Security Council resolution 435. That resolution is endorsed internationally and universally as the basis of Namibian independence, and it needs to be fulfilled as soon as possible. We are in close touch with the other Foreign Ministers concerned with the Contact Group. I recently discussed this question with the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Canada. We are ready to do anything in this or any other context that will help to promote a settlement. One must recognise that the best possible prospect for settlement lies in the negotiations now led by the United States.
Linkage was no part of the Security Council's resolution. We do not recognise it as a precondition for settlement, but the fact that a linkage has been made cannot be ignored if a settlement is to be reached. We welcome the fact that Angola has put forward proposals for Cuban withdrawal. We shall continue to press the negotiations forward in that framework as hard as we can.