British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that he will boycott an EU summit if Zimbawean dictator Robert Mugabe attends. The EU Presidency, which rotates between states every six months, is curently held by Portugal and the summit is to be held in Portugal's capital Lisbon.
Zimbabwe in southern Africa - once known as Rhodesia - gained independence from Britain in 1980. Under British rule it was one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, and earned itself the nickname "The breadbasket of Africa." But under Mugabe the country has the highest rate of inflation in the world - an amazing 7500% - and has the world's lowest life expectancy. Women, who have a lower life expectancy than men, have a lide expectancy of just 34 years.
Brown will boycott EU summit if Mugabe attends
20th September 2007
Daily Mail
Describing the situation in Zimbabwe as 'appalling and tragic', Mr Brown has accused the Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe (below) of abusing his own people
Gordon Brown has delivered a major snub to Robert Mugabe by boycotting a major international summit of European leaders to be attended by the Zimbabwean leader.
With the southern African country in the grip of an economic and humanitarian catastrophe, the Prime Minister called on fellow world leaders to bring more pressure to bear on the Harare regime.
Describing the situation in the former British colony as "appalling and tragic", Mr Brown accused the Zimbabwean president of abusing his own people.
But today Mr Mugabe was defiant.
Zimbabwe, in southern Africa, gained independence from Britain in 1980. Under British rule it was probably Africa's richest country.
“President Mugabe was invited and he is going to Lisbon as Zimbabwe's representative whether Gordon Brown attends or not,” said Bright Matonga, Zimbabwe's deputy information minister.
“Brown is wasting his time."
The Prime Minister has urged the deployment of a United Nations humanitarian mission and promised support for the economic reconstruction of Zimbabwe once Mr Mugabe was gone.
And he said that he would not attend a December meeting of the African Union and European Union in Lisbon if Mr Mugabe was there.
While moving to isolate Zimbabwe's government, Mr Brown will today announce more British aid money for the country.
Already Zimbabwe's second biggest donor, the UK will provide an additional £8 million to be delivered through the World Food Programme.
But the Prime Minister demanded that EU sanctions, currently in place against 131 individuals in the Zimbabwean government, must be applied to more.
"President Mugabe is the only African leader to face an EU travel ban," Mr Brown wrote in The Independent.
"There is a reason for this - the abuse of his own people. There is no freedom in Zimbabwe; no freedom of association; no freedom of the press.
"And there is widespread torture and mass intimidation of the political opposition. President Mugabe's attendance would mean lifting the EU visa ban that we have collectively imposed.
"I believe that President Mugabe's presence would undermine the summit, diverting attention from the important issues that need to be resolved.
"In those circumstances, my attendance would not be appropriate."
The Prime Minister's intervention on Zimbabwe follows growing pressure to act, particularly from Archbishop of York John Sentamu and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The plight of Zimbabweans has come to the fore in recent weeks as the economic crisis has escalated, with spiralling inflation resulting in chronic food shortages and a deepening refugee crisis.
The Prime Minister said he would press the UN Security Council to dispatch a humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe and urge the EU to send an envoy to "support the transition to democracy".
He would also support the efforts of Zimbabwe's neighbours, including South Africa and Tanzania, to negotiate a return to democracy in the former Rhodesia.
This might not satisfy Dr Sentamu, who at the weekend criticised the failure of South African president Thabo Mbeki to take a stand against Mr Mugabe.
Dr Sentamu said the time for an "African solution" - espoused repeatedly by former prime minister Tony Blair - was over.
However, Mr Brown said he would bring international partners together to prepare a long-term recovery package "for when conditions exist to allow economic reconstruction to begin".
Measures will include helping to kickstart the country's failing economy, reducing its debt, returning skilled expatriates, rebuilding schools and hospitals and reforming the land system.
Mr Brown added: "Britain will not shirk our responsibilities to the people of Zimbabwe and I am determined that we do all we can to help them forge a better future for themselves and their children."
dailymail.co.uk
Zimbabwe in southern Africa - once known as Rhodesia - gained independence from Britain in 1980. Under British rule it was one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, and earned itself the nickname "The breadbasket of Africa." But under Mugabe the country has the highest rate of inflation in the world - an amazing 7500% - and has the world's lowest life expectancy. Women, who have a lower life expectancy than men, have a lide expectancy of just 34 years.
Brown will boycott EU summit if Mugabe attends
20th September 2007
Daily Mail
Describing the situation in Zimbabwe as 'appalling and tragic', Mr Brown has accused the Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe (below) of abusing his own people
Gordon Brown has delivered a major snub to Robert Mugabe by boycotting a major international summit of European leaders to be attended by the Zimbabwean leader.
With the southern African country in the grip of an economic and humanitarian catastrophe, the Prime Minister called on fellow world leaders to bring more pressure to bear on the Harare regime.
Describing the situation in the former British colony as "appalling and tragic", Mr Brown accused the Zimbabwean president of abusing his own people.
But today Mr Mugabe was defiant.
Zimbabwe, in southern Africa, gained independence from Britain in 1980. Under British rule it was probably Africa's richest country.
“President Mugabe was invited and he is going to Lisbon as Zimbabwe's representative whether Gordon Brown attends or not,” said Bright Matonga, Zimbabwe's deputy information minister.
“Brown is wasting his time."
The Prime Minister has urged the deployment of a United Nations humanitarian mission and promised support for the economic reconstruction of Zimbabwe once Mr Mugabe was gone.
And he said that he would not attend a December meeting of the African Union and European Union in Lisbon if Mr Mugabe was there.
While moving to isolate Zimbabwe's government, Mr Brown will today announce more British aid money for the country.
Already Zimbabwe's second biggest donor, the UK will provide an additional £8 million to be delivered through the World Food Programme.
But the Prime Minister demanded that EU sanctions, currently in place against 131 individuals in the Zimbabwean government, must be applied to more.
"President Mugabe is the only African leader to face an EU travel ban," Mr Brown wrote in The Independent.
"There is a reason for this - the abuse of his own people. There is no freedom in Zimbabwe; no freedom of association; no freedom of the press.
"And there is widespread torture and mass intimidation of the political opposition. President Mugabe's attendance would mean lifting the EU visa ban that we have collectively imposed.
"I believe that President Mugabe's presence would undermine the summit, diverting attention from the important issues that need to be resolved.
"In those circumstances, my attendance would not be appropriate."
The Prime Minister's intervention on Zimbabwe follows growing pressure to act, particularly from Archbishop of York John Sentamu and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The plight of Zimbabweans has come to the fore in recent weeks as the economic crisis has escalated, with spiralling inflation resulting in chronic food shortages and a deepening refugee crisis.
The Prime Minister said he would press the UN Security Council to dispatch a humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe and urge the EU to send an envoy to "support the transition to democracy".
He would also support the efforts of Zimbabwe's neighbours, including South Africa and Tanzania, to negotiate a return to democracy in the former Rhodesia.
This might not satisfy Dr Sentamu, who at the weekend criticised the failure of South African president Thabo Mbeki to take a stand against Mr Mugabe.
Dr Sentamu said the time for an "African solution" - espoused repeatedly by former prime minister Tony Blair - was over.
However, Mr Brown said he would bring international partners together to prepare a long-term recovery package "for when conditions exist to allow economic reconstruction to begin".
Measures will include helping to kickstart the country's failing economy, reducing its debt, returning skilled expatriates, rebuilding schools and hospitals and reforming the land system.
Mr Brown added: "Britain will not shirk our responsibilities to the people of Zimbabwe and I am determined that we do all we can to help them forge a better future for themselves and their children."
dailymail.co.uk
