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(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai snubbed, EU ambassador starts work

Tsvangirai snubbed, EU ambassador starts work
By: TH-TZG
Posted: Thursday, November 11, 2010 10:55 am

THE European Union will adhere to the Vienna Convention on International Relations’ stipulations and ensure Zimbabwe’s Ambassador-designate to the EU, Mrs Margaret Muchada, starts her duties in Brussels, Belgium.

Addressing journalists after paying a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara in Harare yesterday, European Commission Head of Mission in Zimbabwe Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia said the bloc would accept any envoy seconded from any country. He said such selections were an internal matter.

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai recently wrote to the EU asking them not to recognise Ambassador Muchada, who was previously Zimbabwe’s top diplomat in Italy.

She now represents Zimbabwe in the EU and is also Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, replacing Ambassador Hurudza Punungwe, who died last year.

Ambassador Dell’Ariccia said: "We follow the Vienna Convention on International Relations on the accreditation of ambassadors.

"One has to fulfil the international processes as stipulated in the convention."

On elections, the EU envoy said the bloc would not interfere unless invited as observers.

"Elections are a matter of sovereignty and are internal. We can’t say whether a country is ready or not.

"As long as the mechanisms are in place then a country can progress with elections.

"We can see that Zimbabwe is carrying out some of the mechanisms.

"We will only participate if we are invited. If we are asked to support we are ready to do that," he said.

Ambassador Dell’Ariccia has been in Zimbabwe for two months.

He described the meeting with DPM Mutambara as long overdue.

The DPM said the onus to find solutions to Zimbabwe’s problems lies with its citizens.

He called on the EU to remove its illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.

"We believe that the desired impact of sanctions is to damage the brand of a given country," he said.

DPM Mutambara said the EU should engage Zimbabwe as an equal without undue conditionalities.

"We are a sovereign country. We don’t want to be treated like children."

DPM Mutambara said scrapping off the widely discredited economic embargo would open investment opportunities for Zimbabwe.

He called on the EU to channel its funding through Government structures.

"You cannot develop a country through NGOs and civil society.

"Let us move from aid to investments because we are sick and tired of surviving on aid," he said.

Labels: ALDO DELL'ARICCIA, AMBASSADOR, ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 7:00 PM