West ‘upsetting African peace

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 8

West ‘upsetting African peace

[NZPA Moscow; The Soviet Union has accused the United States and [the North Atlantic Treaty [ Organisation of “aggressive | actions” in Africa and warn[ed such actions posed a danIger to the stability of the ; troubled continent. The official Government [statement, carried by the [Tass news agency,- also accused China of joining with

'[ the West to “fan tensions in i Africa.” The statement, a response [to Western charges of Soviet and Cuban interference [in Africa, denied that the two Communist nations [were threatening peace by; | supporting what it called 'liberation movements. The long communique, noting that N.A.T.O. coun-i [tries were setting up a pan-; African force after a rebel; [invasion of southern Zaire; last month, called this an at-; tempt to increase Western influence in Africa. "The pan-African force; works under the control and; ;in the interests of certain N.A.T.O. powers and any at-1

’[tempts to legalise it in any; [way can have dangerous! • consequences for all African I countries.” it said. “Another aim of the intervention in Zaire is to exeri a direct pressure on the pa triotic forces of Zimbabwe ! and Namibia . • Evident,; [therefore, is a new phase in; l the development of the pol-[. icy of the powers for which;' [the colonialist and racist ■ order is like a balm for ihe [

;soui. The growth of tension on; the African continent "re-1 suiting from the aggressive actions of a group of leading, N.A.T.O. countries headed by; the U.S.A, arouses the legitimate anxiety of peaceable ’States.” the statement said. “The armed conflict on the! Horn of Africa, the unceas-i ing military provocations, against Angola, the inter- ! vention in Zaire, the forma-, ’tion of so-called pan-African; .and, in fact, anti-African [armed forces under the command of N.A.T.O. officers, ’the coup staged by mercen-i [aries on the Comoros — this; [is a far from complete list; jof but recent imperialist acItions.”