HC Deb 25 July 1984 vol 64 cc703-4W
65. Mr. Gareth Wardell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Namibia.

Mr. Rifkind

We welcome the continuing contacts between the Governments of South Africa, Angola and the United States. We look forward to the early completion of South African disengagement from Southern Angola and hope this will contribute to early implementation of Security Council resolution 435.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a representative of the British embassy in Pretoria was last in Namibia; whom he met; and what was discussed.

Mr. Rifkind

A British embassy representative visited Namibia from 18 to 20 July. He called, inter alia, on leaders of the Namibian internal parties and media representatives. His brief was to keep up to date on political, economic and social developments in the territory.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that the United Kingdom, having handed over the original League of Nations mandate for South West Africa, Namibia, to South Africa, should now play the leading role outside the joint monitoring commission in negotiations for its independence.

Mr. Rifkind

The United States is playing a specific role in the broader negotiations to create the conditions for early implementation of Security Council resolution 435. It is our policy to contribute when and where we can.

Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) why the brief issued by his Department, dated May 1984, on "Namibia: Progress Towards Independence", made no reference either to the Lusaka peace conference which took place on 10 to 13 May, or to the multi-party conference of internal leaders participating in the present peace negotiations;

(2) whether Her Majesty's Government has signified their approval or otherwise of the documents issued by the Namibian multi-party conference in its third session, namely the Declaration of Basic Principles, 24 February and the Bill of Fundamental Rights, 19 April.

Mr. Rifkind

This paper was approved for printing in early May, before the Lusaka conference took place. It is one of a series which attempts to provide a general guide to the Namibia problem, but not to give a comprehensive account of developments. It is not a statement of Government policy.

Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have given any indication of support for the role of the internal leaders of Namibia in the multi-party conference in the current negotiations for independence.

Mr. Rifkind

It has been the policy of successive British Governments not to take sides amongst the Namibian political parties. It is for the people of Namibia to make their choice in free and fair elections, as provided for by Security Council resolution 435.