66. Letter From President Carter to South African Prime Minister Vorster 1
Thank you for your letter of June 212 in which you reviewed the most recent discussions between the representatives of the Western members of the Security Council and your government on the question of Namibia. I found your comments very useful regarding the South African viewpoint on what has been accomplished to date in these consultations.
I believe these discussions have resulted in additional important steps being taken toward an internationally acceptable settlement of the long-standing Namibian problem on the basis of Security Council Resolution 385. Your government’s forthcoming response has been helpful to this end, and I note the affirmative approach you have taken up to now.
However, much remains to be done. We believe the exercise of restraint and a spirit of cooperation on the part of all concerned parties hold real promise of bringing about a peaceful transfer of power. We will continue working with other Western members of the Security Council more fully to engage other parties who are directly concerned with Namibian independence, including the United Nations, in order to move the process of settlement to a successful conclusion.
The steps to be taken in the future must be made with full attention to maintaining the broadest possible support. It is therefore particularly important that the definition of the duties and responsibilities of the Administrator-General is taken with full consultation with the Western members of the Security Council and the UN Secretary General.
If a settlement along the lines being explored is ultimately agreed upon, the Administrator-General and the United Nations Special Representative will have to work together at all stages to ensure the fairness of the political process for Namibia. It would therefore be important that they begin their work at the same time.
Looking ahead to our continuing efforts to arrive at a settlement, I want to emphasize to you the importance of your government drawing up a plan for a phased transfer of power in Namibia. Such a program, which we ask that you provide to the Contact Group, could [Page 161] serve to advance the prospects for an internationally acceptable settlement.
In closing, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to emphasize two points. My government will continue to do its best to encourage an internationally acceptable settlement of the Namibian question in the shortest time possible. You are to be commended for your statesmanship in bringing about the possibility of a constructive solution to this long-standing problem. A continuation of your leadership in a positive direction will be welcomed by the United States.
Sincerely,
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 48, South Africa: 7–8/77. No classification marking.↩
- See footnote 5, Document 56.↩