This article reports the announcement on 20 July 1988 that the Angolan, Cuban and South African governments had agreed on ‘a set of essential principles to establish the basis for peace in the South-western region of Africa.’ The principles also set an agenda for further substantive and detailed negotiations. By accepting the principles, the SA government demonstrated political will to make progress. It then lists difficult issues that are yet to be resolved and also states the fourteen principles for a peaceful settlement in South-western Africa.
