P211 CEEFAX 211 Tue 29 May 21:16/18 1/2 South African premier Mr P W Botha has arrived in Portugal at the start of an eight-nation European tour. The visit to Europe is seen in South Africa as a major diplomatic triumph. Speaking before taking off from Jan Smuts airport, Johannesburg, Mr Botha said: "Wj shall try to hold high the name of South Africa." Mr Botha's itinerary includes Portugal, Britain, West Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium. News index 102/202 MoreP211 CEEFAX 211 Tue 29 May 21:15/36 2/2 BACKGROUND Prime Minister Mr P W Botha's European tour is an attempt to bring South Africa out of international isolation. Mr Botha is expected to emphasisj recent diplomatic breakthroughs with neighbouring black countries as evidence of change in the region. But this approach was criticised in The Sowetan, the country's biggest black njwspapjt. It accused Mr Botha of trying to sell "a repackaged apartheid" to European leadjts. There was no substitute to addressing the central problem of apartheid at home, the papjt said. MoreP211 CEJFAX 211 Tue 29 May 21:14/18 2/2 BACKGROUND Prime Minister Mr P W Botha's European tour is an attempt to bring South Africa out of international isolation. Mr Botha is expected to emphasise recent diplomatic breakthroughs with neighbouring black countries as evidence of change in the region. But this approach was ctiticisjd in The Sowetan, the country's biggest black newspaper. It accused Mr Botha of trying to sell "a repackaged apartheid" to European leaders. There was no substitute to addressing the central problem of apartheid at home, the papjt said. More