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(TALKZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe seeks friends, not enemies: President Mugabe

Zimbabwe seeks friends, not enemies: President Mugabe
By: TH-TZG reporters
Posted: Friday, July 23, 2010 7:41 am

PRESIDENT Mugabe says Zimbabweans are simple people who seek peace and friendship around the world, but does not understand why Britain, led by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, decided to internationalise a bilateral issue and seek sanctions against Zimbabwe.

"We seek friends, not enemies. We have nothing against the British people but we were opposed to the Blair regime," President Mugabe told incoming French Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Francois Ponge.

The president said he hoped the new ambassador would help restore bilateral ties that have deteriorated since Nicolas Sarkozy took over the French presidency three years ago.

President Mugabe said relations had been more cordial when Jacques Chirac was still in office.

"I do not know whether President Sarkozy understands the history between us and Britain. He appears to have taken a plunge. We look forward to sanctions being lifted and it is good that you are here.

He added: "We are a simple people. We do not seek quarrels with anyone, but some people think they are better off quarrelling than making friends.

"We are a small country of about 13 million but we are proud of ourselves."

Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba said the President chronicled to Ambassador Ponge how relations between Zimbabwe and Britain soured after the Tony Blair regime in Britain reneged on an agreement to fund land reforms in Zimbabwe as per agreements at Lancaster House in 1979.

He also outlined how Blair proceeded to internationalise the issue after Zimbabwe embarked on the land reform exercise after British withdrawal.

President Mugabe also updated Ambassador Ponge on the progress made by the inclusive Government since its formation in February last year.

"We have worked very well despite our differences. We are all Zimbabweans with a common identity and we proceed along the same path to our common destiny," he said.

President Mugabe also enlightened the ambassador on the current constitution-making process.

Former French president Chirac often resisted British pressure to ostracise Zimbabwe and in 2003 defied the British manouvres and hosted President Mugabe at the France-Africa Summit.

Under Chirac, France was also understood to be opposed to European Union sanctions on Zimbabwe, but was bound by "common policy" positions.

Mr Ponge was among three ambassadors who presented their credentials to President Mugabe at State House yesterday.

The other new top diplomats who presented their credentials to President Mugabe yesterday were Pakistan’s Ambassador, Syed Zulfqar Ali Shah and Ambassador Eddy Poerwana of Indonesia.

Ambassador Shah said his meeting with President Mugabe went very well.

"We are really impressed by His Excellency’s leadership. Pakistan and Zimbabwe enjoy good relations in all fields," he said, pointing out the co-operation in trade, agriculture, education and military affairs.

Ambassador Poerwana said during his tenu-re here he would seek to boost trade, develop the small-scale enterprises and work for women’s empowerment.

"Indonesia and Zimbabwe are long-time friends. We talked a lot about how we can develop the already good relations," he said.

Labels: EDDY POERWANA, FRANCOIS PONGE, GEORGE CHARAMBA, MUGABE, SYED ZULFQAR ALI SHAH

posted by MrK @ 2:58 PM