(TALKZIMBABWE) France urges lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe

France urges lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe
Staff reporter
Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:14:00 +0000

OUTGOING French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Contini bids farewell to Acting President Joice Mujuru at her Munhumutapa offices in Harare on Thursday.

THE French government has called for the immediate lifting of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe, a move that is likely to divide the European Union as countries like Britain and Germany have indicated that sanctions will remain in force in the forseeable future.

The latest move by the French government is said to be motivated by the sucesses scored by the inclusive Government formed by President Robert Mugabe and former opposition Movement for Democratic Chnage leaders, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara who are now prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively.

The position of the French government was revealed by the outgoing French ambassador to Zimbabwe, Laurent Contini.

He called for the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West following the success of the inclusive Government.

When it came into power in 1997, the British Labour Party led by Tony Blair mobilised Western states to impose illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe after President Mugabe's government embarked on a land reform programme that sought to redistribute land that was owned by whites.

The white large-scale commercial farmers, consisting of less than 1% of the population occupied 45% of agricultural land. The New Labour Party reneged on Britain's 1979-80 promise to fund the land redistribution exercise in Zimbabwe, saying the party was not directly responsible for colonisation, and therefore had no obligation to fund the redistribution exercise.

Contini, who is leaving to take up a new diplomatic posting in Rwanda, reiterated that the inlusive Government was making a lot of progress and it was no longer necessary to maintain sanctions against the country.

He said this after meeting Acting President Joice Mujuru at her Munhumutapa offices.

"The lives of the common people have improved and we have also noted pleasing improvement in the economic sector," said Ambassador Contini.

He said the EU was looking forward to seeing more progress in 2010 as part of the commitment by the Zimbabwean inclusive Government to work for the betterment of its people.

As a result of the progress made by Zimbabwe, he said, France would be proactive to ensure quick normalisation of relations between Zimbabwe and the EU.

"Now that Zimbabwe and the EU are engaged in dialogue to normalise relations, we call for the lifting of (illegal) sanctions and we hope this will be achieved soon through the ongoing negotiations.

He also urged "Zimbabwe (to) engage European countries bilaterally to enhance its international relations."

"Noting the progress made by Zimbabwe, France will be active in this process to ensure restoration of relations between Zimbabwe and the EU," he added.

Ambassador Contini said Zimbabwe was a great country adding that he had enjoyed his tenure in the country.

He served for less than two years as French ambassador to Zimbabwe.

"I had a good meeting with Acting President Mujuru and I hope it will help to improve relations between our two countries," said Ambassador Contini