France opts not to invite Mugabe
France opts not to invite MugabeZimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has not been invited to the Franco-African summit which opens on Thursday in Cannes, French officials have said. This marks a change of policy from 2003 when the French government insisted on inviting him to the annual meeting despite international objections. Mr Mugabe has been accused of human and political rights violations.
A French official said an invitation had been sent to Zimbabwe, which had refused to send someone else. The last time the summit was held in France, in 2003, the French government invited Mr Mugabe, arguing that many African countries had threatened to boycott the summit if he was not present.
'British lobbying'
The move annoyed other EU members, who pointed to the EU travel sanctions imposed on Mr Mugabe. According to The Times newspaper in London, the decision not to invite Mr Mugabe this year follows intense lobbying from Britain. President Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Great Britain in 1980.
In recent years, the country has been crippled by an economic crisis. Critics blame President Mugabe's policies, including the seizure of land from white commercial farmers. But Mr Mugabe says Western countries have sabotaged the economy to punish his government for the land seizures.
posted by MrK @ 3:57 AM
1 Comments:
Now this is the usual garbage from the BBC on Zimbabwe. However, it is interesting that it was 'intense lobbying from Britain' (which they probably think is a good thing) that is 'credited' with this result.
" Critics blame President Mugabe's policies " - "Critics Blame", how low has the BBC sunken? And who are these 'critics'? The MDC? John Robertson at The Economist Intelligence Unit? The House of Lords, perhaps?
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