§ 18. Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the Commonwealth in ending apartheid in South Africa.
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§ Mr. WaldegraveWe believe that the international community, including the Commonwealth, should make a positive and practical response to the important changes taking place in South Africa.
§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with the Government of South Africa; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met President de Klerk, Mr. Pik Botha and other South African Ministers in Cape Town on 19 March. They had useful talks which reinforced our views that the South African Government are committed to fundamental reform. He urged them to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible. He also met several opposition leaders in South Africa and saw some of the 250 aid projects which Britain is supporting to help prepare black South Africans for the future after apartheid. He made it clear to everyone he met that our aim is to see apartheid abolished and to help the development of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic South Africa.