(HERALD) EU panics over Zim ultimatum

EU panics over Zim ultimatum
Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:43
By Tafadzwa Chiremba

PANIC has gripped the European Union (EU) following last week’s ultimatum issued by the Government for the regional bloc to justify the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe amid revelations that a top envoy from the grouping is expected in Harare tomorrow for talks with Zimbabwean authorities.

It has emerged that following a 14-day ultimatum by Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana, the EU resolved to dispatch its managing director for Africa, Mr Nick Wescott, who is expected to hold meetings with various groups.

Mr Wescott is the top diplomat for Africa in the EU external affairs services.
EU head of delegation to Zimbabwe Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia yesterday confirmed Mr Wescott’s scheduled two-day visit.

However, he downplayed the purpose of the visit, saying it had nothing to do with the ultimatum.

“He is going to South Africa to attend the EU/SA summit and he decided to pass through Zimbabwe,” said Mr Dell’Ariccia.

However, sources said the visit was a swift reaction to a letter that was written by Mr Tomana questioning the legality of the sanctions on Zimbabwe, adding that it was not a coincidence.

It is understood that the EU envoy will hold talks with the MDC-T and initiate moves to remove names of some local officials on the sanctions list.

It is also understood that Mr Wescott will hold talks with NGOs, MDC and other organisations that are against Zanu-PF to gather malicious evidence to use against the country in the event that Zimbabwe goes ahead and sues for the illegal sanctions.

Mr Tomana’s letter exposed a manifest error in arriving at the imposition of sanctions. The AG revealed that the EU did not communicate its decision to people and companies placed on the sanctions list as is required by Article 6 (2) of the Council Decision.

“I have carried out a diligent inquiry and I have established that the Government of Zimbabwe and all the natural and legal persons and entities listed have neither received communication from the Council of European Union advising them of the Council Decision nor have they been informed of the grounds for their listing as subject to restrictive in terms of Article 6 (2),” read part of Mr Tomana’s letter.

There are 163 people and 31 companies listed on the EU sanctions list.

Mr Tomana argued that the grounds for placing the people on the sanctions list were insufficient and did not properly inform the Government and persons of the basis for being designated.

He gave the EU 14 days to justify the sanctions.

The letter was transmitted to the Cabinet of the President of the EU Council.
Ambassador Dell’Ariccia said Zimbabwe had to invite observers as well as adhere to an election roadmap if EU was to change its position on sanctions.

“The EU has been working towards the normalisation of the relations with Zimbabwe since the subscription of the Global Political Agreement by the three parties and the establishment of the Government of National Unity,” said Mr Dell’Ariccia.

“The EU remains willing to amend its measures at any time should further concrete positive developments take place. In particular, we consider a common understanding between the parties in Government on the necessary steps to be taken in the run-up to elections to be critically important for the democratic process in the country.”

Ambassador Dell’Ariccia said the EU could change its position on Zimbabwe if monitors were engaged before and during the next elections.

“The agreement and subscription by the principal on the credible roadmap to the elections, with a proper mechanism of robust monitoring by the regional partners — Sadc and the facilitator — would be considered as a very positive step by the EU and would have influence on the EU position on the restrictive measures,” he said.

Ambassador Dell’Ariccia’s assertion comes at a time when President Mugabe said Britain and European Union countries will not observe Zimbabwe elections because they have shown bias by imposing the illegal sanctions.

President Mugabe said this while receiving credentials from the new British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mrs Deborah Bronnert, at State House last Thursday.

The President said there was still room for re-engagement with the former coloniser now that the Conservatives were in power.

Analysts said the EU erred in that it did not give proper grounds for the continuation of sanctions, adding that the only source of evidence for EU were newspapers and their proxy NGOs.-The Sunday Mail