“The purpose of this paper is to reflect on diplomatic efforts by the
Western powers to reach a negotiated settlement of the Namibian saga.
Understandably one can only reflect on the major features of what has become
a lengthy diplomatic soap opera with many actors on the stage. With frequent
exchanges of transatlantic acrimony between Pretoria, Washington and London,
the Western intermediaries pursued the arduous task in 1981 to bring
Namibia to internationally recognised independence under joint UN/Western
auspices.”
