
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1991                   TAG: 9102270025
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW                                LENGTH: Short

STEP FOR S. AFRICAN TIES TAKEN

The Soviet Union and South Africa have agreed to open "interest sections" in each other's capitals as a step toward restoring diplomatic relations, the Soviet Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.

"We envisage that consular and diplomatic relations would be established on the level of working contacts between the two countries," said ministry spokesman Vitaly Churkin.

The Soviet Union cut diplomatic ties with South Africa in 1956 to protest that country's policy of apartheid. It provided military aid to the African National Congress, which has been trying to topple the white South African government.

Soviets and South Africans will open offices in the Austrian embassies in Moscow and Pretoria to study the situation in each other's countries and establish contacts, Churkin said.

by CNB