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Conditions outlined for aid to Zimbabwe
David Miliband says the world stood ready to assist in Zimbabwe's reconstruction if a new government respected democracy. Commenting on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's call for a lifting of what he called "illegally imposed sanctions" on his government, Miliband said: "the world stands ready to help with the reconstruction of Zimbabwe" in the wake of the September 15 power-sharing deal in Harare. UK's top diplomat said this would happen only if "the democratic process is respected, the new government is formed reflecting that process and action on the ground reflects a new approach." He said financial and travel sanctions imposed by European countries and the United States targeted only "individual members of the (Harare) regime." "It is very important that a clear message goes out that there are definite expectations of a significant transfer of power reflecting the results of the parliamentary and presidential elections which were won by the (Tsvangirai-led) opposition," Miliband said. In the wake of the power-sharing accord, he signed with his opposition, Mugabe told the UN General Assembly Thursday: "I would like to appeal to those members of the international community who have imposed illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe to lift them so that my country can focus, undisturbed, on its economic turn-around." "We deplore the vindictive approach which often is characterized by self-righteous finger-pointing, double standards and the imposition of unilateral sanctions to coerce smaller and weaker countries to bow to the wishes of militarily stronger states," Mugabe added. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-28 |
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