DELEGATES ARRIVING; KAUNDA ARRIVES; KAUNDA SPEAKING.




Initials PW/VS/MGT/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SPEAKING AT A UNITED NATIONS APARTHEID SEMINAR WHICH OPENED IN KITWE, ZAMBIA ON TUESDAY, PRESIDENT KAUNDA OF ZAMBIA SAID THAT THE SITUATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA WAS POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE. FREEDOM MOVEMENTS IN THE AREA HAD GROUND TO A HALT, HE SAID, AND NEEDED NEW UNITED NATIONS ACTION TO GET THEM MOVING AGAIN.

PRESIDENT KAUNDA WAS OPENING THE SEMINAR, SPONSORED BY THE UN, TO WHICH 30 NATIONS IN AFRICA, ASIA, AMERICA AND EUROPE HAVE SENT DELEGATES.

THE PRESIDENT SPOKE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA AND SAID THAT ZAMBIA DEPLORED THE ACTION OF SOME WESTERN POWERS IN SENDING MILITARY ASSISTANCE AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE TO THAT COUNTRY, BUT DID NOT SPECIFY WHICH POWERS.

OVERSHADOWING THE FIRST DAY'S EVENTS OF THE SEMINAR, HOWEVER, WAS THE DEATH OF CHIEF ALBERT LUTULI, THE DISTINGUISHED AFRICAN LEADER AND NOBEL PRIZE WINNER. A TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE WAS SENT TO HIS WIDOW.

IN HIS ADDRESS, PRESIDENT KAUNA REVIEWED THE SITUATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. FIRST, HE SAID, THE SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA HAD NOT IMPROVED. NEXT, THE RHODESIAN REGIME CONTINUED TO REMAIN IN POWER BY FORCE. AND FINALLY, PORTUGAL REFUSED TO GIVE INDEPENDENCE TO ANGOLA AND MOZAMBIQUE IN DEFIANCE OF THE UN.

THE SEMINAR WILL END ON AUGUST 4.