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EU
renew sanctions against Zimbabwe - Straw statement
Jack
Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
February 28, 2006
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?
The Secretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Jack Straw):
The General Affairs and External Relations Council decided on 30
January to renew the European Union's sanctions against the Government
of Zimbabwe, with effect from 21 February, for a further twelve
months. The European Union's sanctions are an arms embargo, and
a travel ban and assets freeze on Mr Mugabe and leading members
of his regime. The renewal of these measures sends a powerful message
of the European Union's continued concern about the erosion of democracy,
respect for human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. The European
Union's measures are specifically targeted against the Mugabe regime
rather than the economic interests of ordinary Zimbabweans. Indeed,
the European Union and its member states continue to provide considerable
humanitarian aid to ordinary Zimbabweans. The United Kingdom is
one of the three largest cash donors to Zimbabwe, alongside the
European Union and the United States, providing £38 million in the
2005/6 financial year on humanitarian assistance and tackling HIV/AIDs.
In the last twelve months the situation has deteriorated, with two
flawed elections, further human rights abuses, woeful economic mismanagement,
an unchecked food crisis, and country-wide destruction of informal
settlements and markets, affecting more than 700,000 people. These
developments have created growing international concern, with the
United Nations, European Union, African Union and neighbouring states
seeking an urgent resolution of the crisis. Sadly, Mr Mugabe's policies
continue to damage his country. In the last few weeks his regime
has underlined its contempt for basic human rights and for the welfare
of its people. They have launched a sustained programme of intimidation
against an independent radio station, Voice of the People, and are
preventing journalists, for both foreign media organisations and
Zimbabwean newspapers, from legally carrying out their work. There
has been a renewed campaign of violent land seizures, including
for the first time in urban areas, aimed to benefit Mr Mugabe's
cronies. There have also been attacks on opposition-led local councils.
Most recently they have arrested hundreds of women and children
taking part in peaceful demonstrations. We are strongly concerned
by these developments. A free media is essential to the healthy
development of any country, and media repression is the hallmark
of regimes attempting to hide their failings. Continued land seizures
destroy Zimbabwe's agricultural productivity, and underline Mr Mugabe's
contempt for property rights and the rule of law. Vibrant and independent
local government, and the right to freely express views through
peaceful demonstrations, are the building blocks of healthy democracy.
We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to respond without delay to
the concerns set out by the international community, including the
United Nations, European Union and the African Commission on Human
and People’s Rights. The Government of Zimbabwe needs to demonstrate
commitment to the restoration of democracy, respect for human rights
and the rule of law, and the pursuit of sustainable economic policies.
We will continue our pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe to reform,
and will continue to provide support for the long-suffering Zimbabwean
people.
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