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- WORLD, Page 39SOUTH AFRICAAn End to Sanctions?
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- Congress had to override Ronald Reagan's veto to impose
- economic sanctions on South Africa in 1986. George Bush was
- against them then, and would like to end them as soon as he can.
- The measures halted new U.S. investment in South Africa, cut air
- links between the two countries, and barred the import of South
- African products except for vital materials like gold, platinum
- and diamonds.
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- The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 demands five
- actions from Pretoria before unfettered trade and investment can
- resume: legalizing all political parties, lifting the state of
- emergency, freeing political prisoners, eliminating apartheid
- laws and opening talks on a new government.
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- Bush signaled last week that Pretoria was getting close.
- "Dramatic progress has been made," he said. "When the five
- conditions are met, we will lift the sanctions." White House
- officials say four of the requirements have been fulfilled and
- the fifth -- release of all political prisoners -- is in sight.
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- South African President F.W. de Klerk claims he has freed
- more than 1,000 prisoners and only a few remain in jail because
- of a dispute over the exact definition of a "political"
- prisoner. The A.N.C. insists that hundreds are still behind
- bars. Officials in Washington said last week that the
- Administration will make its own decision on the question, but
- will probably withhold its announcement on lifting sanctions
- until after the A.N.C.'s national conference next week.
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