ANGOLA’S INDEPENDENCE Portugal objects to joint plans

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33740, 13 January 1975, Page 13

ANGOLA’S INDEPENDENCE Portugal objects to joint plans

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

PENINA (Portugal), January 12.

Portuguese Ministers and the three Angolan liberation movements negotiated into the early hours this morning, as independence talks moved into top gear with a plenary meeting of all 28 delegates.

The three African groups—rivals for the last decade—presented a joint plan for steps to independence, but the Portuguese delegation said that it objected to some points. Dr Antonio de Almeida Stanos, Minister of Overseas Territories and a member of the Portuguese negotiating team, said that there were problems about the leadership of the proposed transitional Government, the holding of elections for a constituent assembly, and the presence of Portuguese forces in Angola. But he described the joint document as a “working hypothesis”—and after 24 hours of talks in small groups the delegates finally met together round the same table. Dr Almeida Santos said that if any of the three African movements walked out of the conference, it could even lead to civil war. But he added that all the participants fully understood this situation.

The negotiations are being

held in a closely-guarded hotel, from which the delegates scarcely venture. The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (U.N.1.T.A.) broke the silence which the African movements have observed since their arrival by holding a. 45minute press conference, devoted mainly to explaining aims and policies. The U.N.I.T.A. men refused to answer journalists’ questions.

Dr Jorge Valentim, . a U.N.I.T.A. delegate at the talks, said that the parts of Angola which U.N.I.T.A. had “liberated” should remain U.N.I.T.A, areas. He also said that his delegation planned to “uncover” the authors of letters published about three months ago purporting to show that U.N.I.T.A. collaborated with Portuguese Armed Forces in Angola.

This was untrue, he said, adding that U.N.I.T.A. had killed more Portuguese soldiers than the other two movements.