LUSAKA: African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela said that the South African government will have to comply with certain pre-conditions if the ANC were to open negotiations with it.
“We are prepared to meet the government if it is also prepared to meet us, But the government is not yet prepared to meet us, he told a press conference here.
The pre-conditions include lifting of the state of emergency, release of political prisoners and allowing ANC exiles to return without fear of prosecution to participate part in consultations.
The press conference held in the lawns of the state house was attended by leaders of frontline States in Southern Africa, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia and outgoing secretary general of the Commonwealth Shridath Ramphal.
It follows a meeting, the 72 year old ANC leaders had with representatives of the commonwealth and heads of state and government present in Lusaka at which according to Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, it was agreed that sanctions must continue until apartheid was dismantled.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 9, 1990
