Word: viljoen
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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...
...Viljoen argues that it is now time for the A.N.C. to stop talking about continuing armed struggle and offer some conciliatory gesture. "It is only fair," he says, "that in answer to the considerable strides the State President has taken, some steps should be taken on the other side to narrow the gap." Viljoen expects that Mandela will be not just a facilitator of talks but a central figure in negotiating a new South African constitution. "His stature and qualities are quite clear to anybody who has ever talked with him," said Viljoen. At the same time, he said...
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...
Both sides are going out of their way to sound flexible, but how much give is there on either part? Viljoen says the government is prepared to negotiate everything, including its proposal for "group rights," but few believe the whites would give up that demand. A.N.C. leaders have acknowledged a need to somehow provide protections for minorities. But, says Thabo Mbeki, the group's foreign minister, "we will argue that group rights are the same as apartheid...