UN plan could 'materialize in near future,' Secretary-General says.

• Position: United Nations and Namibia, Javier Perez de Cuellar

UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar on 3 October expressed his hope that the UNplan for Namibian independence materialize in the near future" as quadripartite talks on the subject continued

Four days before, Security Council members, meeting on the tenth anniversary of its adoption of resolution

435 (1978), supported "the resolute action led by the SecretaryGeneral" to achieve Namibian independence, noting the recent efforts, involving Angola, Cuba, South Africa and the United States, to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in southwestern Africa.

Since May, seven rounds of negotiations-involving Angola, Cuba and South Africa, with the United States as mediator-have been held in London (3-4 May), Cairo (24-25 June), New York (11-13 July), Geneva (2-5 August), and Brazzaville (24-26 August, 7-9 and 26-29 September).

'Waiting in the wings'

On 12 August, a spokesman for the Secretary-General said that the UN was "waiting in the wings" to implement resolution 435. Mr P6rez de Cu6llar on 22 August welcomed what he called "intense negotiations taking place for the settlement of the Namibian question" 'He was encouraged by the apparent predisposition on the part of Angola, Cuba and South Africa to resolve their disputes peacefully. He urged all concerned to make a concrete effort to meet the aspirations of Namibians and to enable the UN to proceed with the Namibian independence plan.

Security Council members, in their 29 September statement, noted efforts by the parties to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in southwestern Africa.

They urged the parties "to display the necessary political will to translate the commitments they have made into reality in order to bring about a peaceful settlement of the Namibian question and peace and stability in the region".

On 13 July, following sessions held on Governor's Island in New York City, representatives of Angola, Cuba and South Africa initialled an agreement which was subsequently approved by their Governments and made public on 20 July This agreement stipulating 14 "essential principles" to establish the basis for peace in the region was recognized as "indispensable to a comprehensive settlement".

Essential principles

The 14 essential principles agreed on at Governor's Island were: The parties agreed to recommend to the Secretary-General a date for commencement of implementation of resolution 435; Angola and South Africa would, in conformity with the dispositions of resolution 435...