EU-DIGEST

Oct 7, 2008

IC Publications: EU sanctions on Zimbabwe will stay until govt formed

for the complete report from the IC Publications click on this link

EU sanctions on Zimbabwe will stay until govt formed

European Union sanctions on Zimbabwe will remain until rival parties there break an impasse and form a government, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday. In a written answer to parliament, Miliband said that positive momentum built up when President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to a power-sharing deal was "fast evaporating." The deal was signed in Harare on September 15, but Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change have been deadlocked since then, and a failure to reach an accord on the cabinet has delayed the formation of a unity government.

"Until a new Zimbabwean government are appointed and that government show by their action their commitment to reform, EU targeted measures will remain in place," Miliband said. The British minister added that though humanitarian assistance would continue, "it is not the long-term solution in Zimbabwe." He said that he would discuss the situation in Zimbabwe with his EU counterparts on October 13.

Labels: Council of Europe, Sanctions, Zimbabwe

12:53 AM | Permalink | | links to this post

Jun 23, 2008

AP: Morgan Tsvangirai Zimbabwe opposition leader seeks refuge with Dutch - by Angus Shaw

The Associated Press: Zimbabwe opposition leader seeks refuge with Dutch

Zimbabwe's opposition leader has fled to the Dutch Embassy saying he
feared for his safety, while police on Monday raided his party's
headquarters and took about 60 people away. Morgan Tsvangirai
went to the embassy Sunday shortly after announcing he was withdrawing
from Friday's presidential runoff against longtime leader Robert
Mugabe, citing violence against opposition supporters, a Dutch Foreign
Ministry spokesman said.

Tsvangirai won the first round of the presidential election on March
29, but did not gain an outright majority against 84-year-old Mugabe.
That campaign was generally peaceful, but the runoff has been
overshadowed by violence and intimidation, especially in rural areas.
Independent human rights groups say 85 people have died and tens of
thousands have been displaced from their homes, most of them opposition
supporters.

Labels: EU, Netherlands, Zimbabwe

8:00 PM | Permalink | | links to this post

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