HC Deb 05 March 1986 vol 93 cc306-8
12. Mr. Caborn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an account of the circumstances appertaining to, and the discussion during recent meetings between, the African National Congress and representatives of Her Majesty's Government.

Mrs. Chalker

We arranged the meeting in Lusaka on 3 February between a senior official of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and representatives of the African National Congress to reinforce the urgent need for dialogue within South Africa, and the general suspension of violence called for in the Commonwealth accord.

Mr. Caborn

I welcome that statement. I also welcome the hon. Lady's recent speech in which she called for the unconditional release of Nelson Mandela and said that that would show to the world that South Africa meant business. Does she not find a twinge of inconsistency in calling for that release, but being unwilling to meet representatives of the African National Congress in London?

Mrs. Chalker

There is absolutely no inconsistency. We have always said that we believe that the unconditional release of Nelson Mandela would constitute a major act of national reconciliation in South Africa, and could provide the impetus for genuine dialogue for a peaceful settlement. We have stressed the importance of that move to the South African Government. In the same way, the official level contacts with the ANC are also to promote dialogue and to get it to renounce violence, and so to bring a peaceful end to the present awful position in South Africa.

Mr. Forth

Will my hon. Friend confirm that meeting ANC representatives in no way condones or supports the techniques of terror that they are prone to use in South Africa? What would be her reaction if a foreign country approached Her Majesty's Government to make representations on the legitimate imprisonment of one of our citizens?

Mrs. Chalker

My hon. Friend is right. In no way do we condone violent behaviour. However, I must tell him that when a foreign Government approach us, we consider each approach on the facts as they are known to us. One cannot give a blanket response to cover the wide variety of approaches with which we must deal from many different countries.