African National Congress (Hansard, 12 November 1987)

§ Mr. Caborn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report all press statements released by his Department in connection with his Department's meeting with Mr. Tambo, the president of the African National Congress.

§ Mrs. Chalker
The press statement issued after my right hon. and learned Friend's meeting with Mr. Tambo in September 1986 read as followsMr. Oliver Tambo, President of the ANC, called on the Foreign Secretary at Chevening at 9.00 a.m. on 20 September. The meeting lasted almost two hours. Sir Geoffrey Howe and Mr. Tambo had a frank and serious discussion about the current situation in South Africa and the prospects for a peaceful setlement. The Foreign Secretary emphasised the British Government's total opposition to the system of apartheid and our wish to see rapid, fundamental but peaceful change in South Africa. He emphasised that the British Government utterly rejected violence as a means of achieving change. Sir Geoffrey also made it clear that the Twelve member states of the European Community are united in their determination to do everything possible to promote a peaceful settlement in South Africa through dialogue and a suspension of violence on all sides.
The statement issued after my own meeting with Mr. Tambo in June 1986 read: At the British Government's invitation, Mr. Oliver Tambo, the President of the ANC, Mr. Thabo Mbeki and Mr. Aziz Pahad called on the Minister of State at 6.30 p.m. on 24 June for an exchange of views on the situation in South Africa. The meeting which lasted for more than one hour, was useful and candid. Mrs. Chalker emphasised the British Government's continuing commitment to the early and complete elimination of apartheid. She expressed grave concern at the continuing violence and repression in South Africa, including yesterday's bombing outrage. Violence could never lead to a solution to South Africa's problems. The way ahead had to be through dialogue and negotiation in the context of a suspension of violence on all sides".

§ Mr. Caborn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of all242W meetings between Ministers and officials with representatives of the African National Congress since 1 January 1986, including when and where such meetings took place and in what capacity British Ministers and officials were acting.

§ Mrs. Chalker
My right hon. and learned Friend met the President of the African National Congress, Mr. Oliver Tambo, on 20 September 1986 at Chevening when he was President of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Community. I met Mr. Tambo in London on 24 June 1986. There have been contacts with the African National Congress at official level from time to time in London and abroad as and when necessary.

§ Mr. Caborn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will describe in what capacity he has met the president of the African National Congress, Mr. Oliver Tambo; whether the African National Congress was advised in what capacity he was meeting Mr. Tambo; whether the press was advised in what capacity he was meeting Mr. Tambo; and to what extent the members of the EEC Council of Ministers were consulted in advance of the meeting with Mr. Tambo.

§ Mrs. Chalker
My right hon. and learned Friend met Mr. Tambo when he was President of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Community. He also took the opportunity to make Her Majesty's Government's view clear to Mr. Tambo. His approach to Mr. Tambo was set unambiguously in the context of his mission to southern Africa which was undertaken at the request of the European Community Heads of Government. His colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Council were fully aware of his plans. The press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office after the meeting made it clear that my right hon. and learned Friend spoke to Mr. Tambo on behalf of the European Community.