Non-Aligned Gather In Zambia

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32396, 8 September 1970, Page 13

Non-Aligned Gather In Zambia

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LUSAKA, Sept. 7. The non-aligned world will meet today to map out strategy for ending white rule in neighbouring southern Africa which lies just 50 miles away from the conference hall where Foreign Ministers will gather in Lusaka.

Foreign Ministers of more than 50 nations meeting in Lusaka before Tuesday’s summit will have before them a draft document recommending the non-aligned world to take a more active interest in freedom movements, including the provision of material aid, conference sources said.

This would help prevent the big Power blocs from gaining too much influence with the groups and discour-

age them from trying to initroduce a cold war element ‘into the black-white confronStation. The document also suggests that South Africa and Portugal, which has three African territories, should be excluded from all United Nations specialised agencies, the sources said. Today’s meeting will be attended by ministers representing half the nations of the world. At the last non- ! aligned meeting in Belgrade ■nine years ago 25 nations were present Observers said that although the Southern African question was likely to head the agenda given Lusaka's geographical position—the Rhodesian border town of Chirundu lies 50 miles to the south—non-African ministers would ensure that it did not completely dominate the conference. They said that many delegates were anxious to discuss fully the possibilities of eco-

nomic co-operation between non-aligned nations.

One of the draft documents called for a positive approach to the question and outlined specific areas of co-operation. These included a joint approach to the marketing of primary commodities, jointly owned and operated transport systems, technical research and defence matters, the conference sources said.

Last night the ministers appointed a nine-nation committee to draw up a full agenda for today’s meeting. Contending Delegations

The sources said that some delegates had objected to some items in the draft agenda, and had queried whether the ministers were empowered to decide on which of two Cambodian delegations should take its seat.

Delegations representing the Lon Nol Government and the deposed Cambodian leader, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, have arrived in Lusaka, both claiming to represent Cambodia. Conference sources said that this question, and the question of whether to allow the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam to represent South Vietnam, would be referred to committees, thus letting the plenary session get on with major issues. The question of the status to be given liberation movements is also likely to be discussed today. The movements, many of them based in Lusaka, want full membership of the conference, but sources said that they were likely to be offered I observer status, with the right to speak. ! More Heads of State will arrive today, including Emperor Haile Selassie, of Ethiopia, President Julius Nyerere, of Tanzania, the Prime Minister'of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, President Milton Obote, of Uganda, President Makarios, of Cyprus, and President Suharto, of Indonesia.

They will join other leaders, such as President Tito, of Jugoslavia, and Mrs Gandhi, of India, at the summit village on the outskirts of the city.