Word: gerrit
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...government so far is minimizing criticism of Mandela. While officials characterized his remarks about "armed struggle" as "unhelpful," the dominant refrain was cautious encouragement. Minister of Constitutional Development and Planning Gerrit Viljoen said Mandela's overture to the white community "bodes well for the possibility of a frank and reasonable discussion." Viljoen noted that both he and Mandela agreed that the main task of negotiations would be to reconcile black demands for one person, one vote with white fears about black domination, but he cautioned, "You must not be too impatient...
Government leaders seemed convinced that De Klerk's concessions would now lead to the bargaining table. Contacts with black leaders will be "considerably broadened and expanded," said Minister of Constitutional Development and Planning Gerrit Viljoen. But he gave no specifics on how the white government might be prepared to compromise on its own fundamental policy of guaranteed rights for racial groups as well as individuals...
...first one is to convene the indaba. According to Gerrit Viljoen, who as Minister for Constitutional Development is the government's chief negotiator, De Klerk's sole precondition for A.N.C. participation is a "peaceful commitment to a negotiated resolution." That is something the A.N.C. has yet to address definitively. Two weeks ago, the A.N.C. national executive in Lusaka adopted a platform, based on a ten-point plan sent by Mandela through intermediaries, affirming the group's commitment to negotiations and offering a truce if De Klerk meets its conditions for talks...