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(TALKZIMBABWE) Bush and Kikwete fail to agree on Zimbabwe

Bush and Kikwete fail to agree on Zimbabwe
Our reporter and sources
Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:16:00 +0000

President Bush and Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete toast at the social dinner held at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

UNITED States President George W. Bush and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, the current head of the African Union Monday failed to agree on the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe as they met on the sidelines of the ongoing G8 Summit in the lakeside resort of Toyako on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

President Bush has said he supports the idea of United Nations wide sanctions against Zimbabwe to ‘restore democracy’.

Bush said he was ‘deeply concerned’ by the way the June 27 elections had been conducted but failed short of calling President Robert Mugabe illegitimate.

"You know I care deeply about the people of Zimbabwe," Bush said. "I'm extremely disappointed in the elections."

“And we, of course, listened very carefully. And President Kikwete, as the head of the AU, has been very involved in this issue. I'm not going to put words in his mouth, he can express his own self, but it was -- this issue of Zimbabwe took a fair amount of time,” said Bush.

Bush was meeting leaders from seven African countries who are attending the summit as observers. High on the agenda was the structure of the Aid Package promised to African countries.

Zimbabwe was also discussed.

Reports coming from Japan indicated that there were discussions on Zimbabwe, but no consensus was reached on the way forward. African countries, including South Africa, indicated that they were against the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Britain and the United States were hoping to convince the African countries that sanctions were the ways forward.

Standing next to Bush, President Kikwete, was reported as saying that while some African leaders share U.S. concerns, You see differently but for us in Africa we see differently, but I think again there is still room for us for discussions."

Kikwete added: “So this is the way we see it. I don't think there is much, the divergence there. You would have liked to see us do a bit -- some things, we would have liked to see you do some things. But we'll continue to discuss all these issues, and as friends at the end of the day we'll come to an understanding.”

According to Reuters news agency, Kikwete said: "We are saying no party can govern alone in Zimbabwe, and therefore the parties have to work together in a government and look at the future of their country together," he said.

Bush international economics aide Dan Price, speaking after the briefing said, “There were differences. Not all leaders are in a position to support sanctions at this time.''

Japan also seemed not too enthusiastic to send a ‘strong statement’ as had been requested by British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

Japan said they were concerned about the situation in the country.

The G8 comprises the United States, Japan, France, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy and Russia.

Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, GEORGE BUSH, JAKAYA KIKWETE, NEOCOLONIALISM, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 4:33 PM