'Co-operation' on Namibia

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 15

' Co-operation' on Namibia

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright >

PRETORIA, July 21.

The South African Prime Minister (Mr Vorster) says that his Government will co-operate with the United Nations on the question of independence for South-West Africa (Namibia).

He was commenting on a report by the U.N. Secretary-General, Dr Kurt Waldheim, after a visit to the territory earlier this year. The former German territory has been the subject of a dispute between the United Nations and South Africa, which administered it originally under a mandate granted by the League of Nations. The General Assembly voted a few years ago to revoke the mandate, but South Africa declared the action illegal and said it would continue to administer the territory, termed Namibia by the United Nations. Mr Vorster said that the discussions to which Dr

■ Waldheim referred must be considered by the Security ; Council. “But it wil be noted that ■ further contacts between the Secretary-General and the South African Government are envisaged through a personal representative to be appointed after consultations. “His task wil be to assist as a go-between in achieving the aim of self-determination and independence.” The Prime Minister said that there was provision for the representative, who will 1 be based in New York, to 1 travel to South Africa and 1 South-West Africa. “For our part, we shall . . . ' co-operate with him by providing him with the facilities ! he will require for this purr pose.”