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EU Council Conclusions on Zimbabwe
Council of the European Union
April 23, 2007

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/93785.pdf

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

1. The Council joins the UNSG and the AU in expressing strong concern at the rapidly deteriorating human rights, political and economic situation in Zimbabwe. The Council condemns in particular the acts of violent repression against the opposition and calls on all parties to refrain from violence. The Council welcomes the fact that the Human Rights Council has addressed the situation in Zimbabwe.
   
2. The Council urges the government of Zimbabwe to respect Africa's own commitments and approaches, in particular the NEPAD and the recently adopted African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
   
3. With a view to the potentially destabilising impact of the situation in Zimbabwe on the whole region, the Council commends the recent extra-ordinary SADC summit in Dar es Salaam and the SADC initiative in resolving this crisis. It welcomes the mandate given to President Mbeki to facilitate a dialogue between the opposition and the Government, and the engagement of President Kikwete as chair of the SADC organ. The Council stands ready to support the SADC initiative, if called upon to do so. Moreover, the Council urges all parties to engage with civil society, including the churches, to conduct a broad inclusive national dialogue, which is essential to lay the basis for genuine reform and national reconciliation.
   
4. In response to the acts of violence and abuses of human rights the Council will extend the visa ban list (as agreed by Common Position of February 19, 2007). The EU reiterates that its targeted measures (consisting of a visa ban, an assets freeze and an arms embargo) are exclusively aimed at those leading figures responsible for Zimbabwe's crisis of governance and abuses of human rights.
   
5. The EU, reaffirming its solidarity with the Zimbabwe people, will continue its contribution to operations of humanitarian nature and projects which are in direct support of the population. Funding activities that in 2006 amounted to € 193 million. The EU also wishes to confirm its willingness to continue to make use of the opportunity provided by the ongoing 10th EDF programming exercise to carry on the dialogue and as soon as conditions allow, to make progress towards a situation where the resumption of full cooperation becomes possible.
   
6. In the meantime, the Council will continue to keep the situation under close observation.

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