Apartheid minister in talks with Iraq

2003-01-28 23:22

Jan-Jan Joubert

Johannesburg - Apartheid cabinet minister and chief National Party negotiator during South Africa's transition to democracy, Roelf Meyer, has had lengthy talks with the Iraqi government in an attempt to avert war in that country.

Speaking from Baghdad, Meyer said on Tuesday that he hoped the information he and Laurie Nathan of the Centre for Conflict Resolution obtained in Iraq could be used as part of the worldwide protest against a war in the Middle East.

Meyer and Nathan went to Baghdad as part of an initiative of the Centre for Economic and Social Rights, a New York based American non-governmental organisation.

"The organisation holds the opinion that a huge effort must be launched to avert war and asked us to become involved. I don't think people realise what a big influence a war would have on Africa. It will be much bigger than the previous Gulf war," Meyer said.

Meyer and Nathan have met with the Iraqi vice-president, Tariq Aziz, and his advisors three times since the weekend.

Meyer said they lacked the means to negotiate directly with the American and British governments, but that he would give the South African government full feedback on his return to the country.

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- Beeld