HC Deb 13 June 1984 vol 61 cc488-9W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give any details of the constitution of the recently formed multiparty conference of internal Namibian leaders.

Mr. Rifkind

The multi-party conference presently consists of representatives of the following parties: South West Africa National Union (SWANU), Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), South West Africa National Party (SWA-NP), South West Africa Peoples' Organisation-Democrats (SWAPO-D), Rehoboth Liberation Front, and the Labour Party. Two further parties participated in earlier stages of the conference's work but have since withdrawn: these were the Namibia Christian Democratic Party (NCDP) and the Damara Council.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's view of the results of the conference held in Lusaka recently on the subject of Namibia.

Mr. Rifkind

We welcome this meeting, and hope that it will contribute to the prospects for early implementation of Security Council resolution 435.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will afford to any other Namibian political leaders in the future the same treatment as he gave to Mr. Sam Nujoma in February.

Mr. Rifkind

Other Namibian leaders have been received in the past. We have had no recent requests for meetings. But if there were, such leaders would be received at an appropriate level.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of meetings between representatives of the Government and Mr. Sam Nujoma in February.

Mr. Rifkind

We keep in regular touch with the parties involved in the search for a Namibia settlement. Our meetings with Mr. Nujoma permitted an exchange of views on the latest developments.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which other Namibian political figures have met representatives of the British Government in the current year besides Mr. Sam Nujoma.

Mr. Rifkind

Representatives from Her Majesty's embassy in Cape Town and from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have met representatives of all the main internal parties, including the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, the South West Africa National Union, SWAPO-Democrats, the Rehoboth Liberation Front, the South West Africa Nation Party, the Damara Council, the Namibia Christian Democratic Party, the Namibia Independence Party, and the Christian Democratic Alliance.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are currently resident in Namibia.

Mr. Rifkind

We have no precise figures on the number of United Kingdom nationals resident in Namibia.