Word: namibia
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...widely hailed as a victory for patient U.S. diplomacy. After years of hostility, both South Africa and the militant South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) agreed to let the United Nations oversee the transition to independence of Namibia (South West Africa). But as events unfolded in the Venezuela-sized, mineral-rich territory last week, it became clear that much more patience and diplomacy will be needed, before South Africa relinquishes control over the land It has ruled since 1919 under an international mandate, that the U.N. revoked in 1966. As a U.S. official warned last week: "Things could...
...effort is most likely to founder over the future of Walvis Bay, Namibia's principal port (see box). Pretoria wants to trade the harbor for a cooperative attitude from the new Namibian regime after it takes power. SWAPO insists that Walvis Bay, through which 90% of the territory's international trade passes, must become part of Namibia...
...that may eventually grow to 5,000 troops and 1,000 civilians. Ahtisaari, a former Finnish Ambassador to Tanzania, will meet with stonewalling cynicism from whites, who fully expect him to favor the guerrillas in any disagreement. One such skeptic is Brian O'Linn, Secretary-General of the Namibia National Front, a newly formed multiracial attempt to steer between SWAPO and its major opponent, the South African-backed Democratic Turnhalle Alliance. Says O'Linn, "the deep suspicion South Africans have about the U.N. can only be alleviated. I doubt if it will ever be resolved...
...psychological roadblocks. By the end of August he is supposed to submit to U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim a plan for a truce between the guerrillas and South African troops, as well as a blueprint for the election of a constituent assembly that will draft a constitution for independent Namibia. Pretoria has warned that it may reject any recommendation Ahtisaari comes up with. Meanwhile both sides have adopted a "you first" attitude that will make a cease-fire difficult to achieve. As guerrillas under his command blew up a vital water line in northern Namibia, SWAPO Leader Sam Nujoma declared...
Foreign Policy. In a number of areas, Carter deserves high marks. By swinging the U.S. dramatically behind black majority rule in southern Africa, the Administration has won the respect of moderate black African leaders and improved the chances of a peaceful transfer of power in Southwest Africa (Namibia). By successfully pushing for the Panama Canal treaties, Carter accomplished something that four previous Administrations had postponed. In the Middle East, the most dramatic moves have been made not by the U.S. but by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. However, Carter and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance have carefully strengthened the U.S. role...