§ 23. Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have sought any assurances from Mr. Botha about the departure of South African troops from Angola.
§ Mr. RifkindWe have long pressed for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Angola. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reiterated our position in her talks with Mr. Botha last month. We welcomed the South African decision earlier this year to begin disengagement. We look forward to the early completion of this process.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part has been played by the Government in the activities of the joint monitoring commission in southern Angola; and what progress has been made by the commission since its establishment.
§ Mr. RifkindThe joint monitoring commission (JMC) is formed of representatives of the South African and Angolan Governments. The United Kingdom is not involved. The JMC's task is to supervise the disengagement of South African forces from Angola under the terms agreed by Angola, South Africa and the United States in Lusaka on 16 February. The JMC has moved steadily southward and is now at Ondjiva, 60 km north of the Namibia-Angola border.