report of the Organizations's Monitoring Group, which provided its assessment of the situation. In my report, I stated that a process had started towards the dismantling of apartheid through negotiations, although it was still at an early stage. A number of measures had been initiated towards creating an appropriate climate for negotiations. In this regard, the action taken by the South African Government to lift the ban on political parties and movements was of particular significance. While welcoming those developments, I made clear that other essential measures stipulated by the General Assembly in its Declaration remained to be fulfilled in their entirety. They included the release of all political prisoners and detainees, the end of the state of emergency throughout the country, the repeal of all legislation designed to circumscribe political activity, the removal of all troops from the townships and the cessation of all political trials and political executions. Almost two months have elapsed since the introduction of my report, but I regret it is not possible for me today to inform the Assembly that those measures have been implemented in their totality, although some further steps have been taken in that direction. №iat I stressed at that time remains valid today - that continuing resistance to change on the part of the entrenched apartheid structures of the system, as well as existing security legislation, continue to inhibit free JB/5 A/44/PV.97 8 (The Secretary-General) political activity. I also emphasized that the issue of violence, not least in Natal, needs to be addressed urgently and at the highest level. If allowed to continue unrestrained, it could critically impair the current process towards political change. I had also expressed the hope that further progress would be made towards creating an appropriate climate for negotiations in light of the contacts that had 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report on the political situation in South Africa, specifically regarding the dismantling of apartheid and the creation of a climate for negotiations. The report discusses the steps taken by the South African Government and the remaining measures that need to be fulfilled to achieve this goal. The report also mentions the issue of violence and its potential to impair the process of political change.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations