Maravi

(TALKZIMBABE, AFP) Dutch govt says more aid depends on reforms

Dutch govt says more aid depends on reforms
Nyarai Chidemo
Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:19:00 +0000

ZIMBABWE must adopt economic, political and social reforms before getting any additional aid from the Netherlands, the Dutch government told Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai during his state to that country on Sunday.

Tsvangirai was in the Hague, Netherlands on the first leg of a state trip to seek financial aid for the southern African country and call for sanctions imposed on the country by the EU and the US.

This is the former opposition MDC leader's oversweas visit since the formation of the inclusive Government. President Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed an inclusive Government in February after years of talks facilitated by the Southern African Development Community..

Tsvangirai, who will visit Britain, France, Sweden and Brussels, seat of the 27-nation European Union, met Dutch Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders and will meet Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende on Monday.

"It is the agreement of the parties in Zimbabwe itself regarding human rights, security, regarding economic policy, regarding land survey that forms the basis for our future support," Koenders told reporters after meeting Tsvangirai in The Hague.

Tsvangirai said he hopes to get the green light for a new round of talks with the European Union at the end of his trip to discuss reforms and future aid.

"I did not come here with a begging bowl. Re-engagement is a process," he told reporters after meeting Koenders.

"We have been isolated for the last 10 years and re-engagement means ... our cooperation partners need to understand what we are doing ... and we also have to understand the concerns of our partners."

"We have big problems but they are not insoluble," Tsvangirai told Koenders.

The Dutch have promised 14.7 million euros in aid to Zimbabwe, mainly for humanitarian efforts.

This report was compiled using information from Reuters and AFP

Labels: DONORS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 6:03 PM