1.
GV TILT Down Conference building
0.11

2.
SV Dr. Soares arrives after break
1.33

3.
SV Dr. Santos leaves hotel and into car.
1.38

4.
SV Newsmen
1.38

5.
SV Pires in car
1.42

6.
SV Newsmen
1.47

7.
CU PAIGC Spokesman Mr. Gil Fernandez comments on talks.
2.14


REPORTER: "How are the talks going, can you tell us anything at all?"



SANTOS: "Well."



REPORTER: "They're going well. Is any progress being made?"



SANTOS: "Of course. The talk is continuing."



REPORTER: "The PAIGC originally said they wouldn't come to the talks unless the Portuguese Government was willing to grant them independence. Is your presence here an indication of that?"



SANTOS: "We are going to discuss that."



REPORTER: "Are the Cape Verde Islands a sticking point in these discussion"



SANTOS: "I can't say anything else."



REPORTER: "Any idea how long the talks will be going on?"



SANTOS: "The talks are going on of course."



REPORTER: "Will they be over today?"



SANTOS: "I suppose not today."



FERNANDEZ: "Well they've been discussed."



REPORTER: "Is it a sticking point?"



FERNANDEZ: "Not really, but a point of discussion."



REPORTER: "The fact that you've only said that you would only come here if Portugal would grant independence...is their appearance here indictive of the fact that you will get independence from them.?"



FERNANDEZ: "We have high hopes. High hopes."



REPORTER: "I see. Will you accept independence for Guinea-Bissau without the Cape Verde Islands?"



FERNANDEZ: "We're negotiating this."




Initials AE/23.22 AE/12.45



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Ceasefire talks in London between Portugal and the African nationalists in Portuguese Guinea went into their fourth day on Tuesday (Many 28) with no sign of a breakthrough.

A spokesman for the self-proclaimed state of Guinea-Bissau said he could see no sign of an agreement being reached quickly. The Portuguese Foreign Minister, Doctor Mario Soares, was non-committal. When asked to comment on a broadcast by Senor Luis Cabral, President of the Guinea-Bissau State Council urging Portugal to grant full independence to all three of its African colonies, Dr. Soares said the current talks were specifically on Guinea, but Portugal's global position was well known.... it was one of decolonisation.

There was speculation that some sort of breakthrough had been achieved when Dr. Soares left the conference room after 90 minutes of talks. Before he drove off he said he would return in five minutes. It was thought he had gone to the Portuguese Embassy to speak with General Spinola in Lisbon. But on his return he said his absence was for personal reasons only.

portugal's Minister for Overseas Territories, Dr. Santos was asked by newsmen, including Visnews African Editor William L. Ward, about the talks after the first of the day's break in discussions.

The spokesman for the African nationalists at the talks in Mr. Gil Fernandez. He was asked about the question of the Cape Verde Islands.