(NEWZIMBABWE) Hague rules out sanctions review

COMMENT - Zimbabwe Vigil is an UK government/establishment front led by Brigadier Geoffrey van Orden, and works closely with the Rhodesian faction of the MDC.

Hague rules out sanctions review
by Staff Reporter
15/06/2010 00:00:00

BRITISH Foreign Secretary William Hague says any review of European Union sanctions against Zimbabwe would be based on progress made in implementing the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and will need the endorsement of all 27 EU member states.

Hague’s remarks appeared to pour cold water on hopes within President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party that a change of government in the United Kingdom might herald the beginning of a kind of rapprochement between Harare and London.

Responding to an appeal by the pressure group Zimbabwe Vigil for support to ensure free and fair elections in the country, Hague said he welcomed the renewal of dialogue between Harare and the EU but emphasized the need to complete implementation of reforms agreed under the GPA.

“The EU renewed and modified its targeted measures on Zimbabwe in February to reflect the progress that had been made in the economic sector but the lack of progress in advancing political reform. Any further modifications must be agreed by all 27 Member States and should reflect progress in line with the Global Political Agreement,” Hague said.

The state-owned media in Zimbabwe has recently carried articles by pro-Zanu PF analysts suggesting that the new Conservative-led government in the UK might be disposed towards dispensing with the previous Labour administration’s hostile approach to Zimbabwe.

President Robert Mugabe also appeared to suggest as much during the World Economic Forum meetings in Tanzania when he said efforts to bring majority rule to Zimbabwe had failed under successive Labour governments in the UK adding progress was only made when Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979.

Meanwhile Hague said the coalition government is not a long-term solution and emphasised the UK government would only support a process that leads to “free and fair” elections.

“This (UK) government will focus on supporting a process that gives Zimbabweans a chance to state their democratic preferences, and that leads to a stable government genuinely representing the people’s will.

“It is vital that elections, when held, must be conducted in a manner that allows Zimbabweans to express their opinions in an informed and free way and without fear of violence or intimidation. We will be working with the international and regional community to ensure that this can happen,” Hague said.

He also said British humanitarian aid would continue to be provided through non-state channels.

“All funding is channeled through international organisations or NGOs and not through the Government of Zimbabwe or the Reserve Bank. This approach was confirmed at an international donor meeting of the Friends of Zimbabwe at the end of May,” Hague said.