Canada on 24 June 2008 condemned President Robert Mugabe’s government for its actions in the run-up to the presidential elections run-off saying that the violence that accompanied the campaign had contaminated the election.
It pledged to continue to work with others to promote firm action against the Mugabe regime to allow the formation of a legitimate government that reflected the will of the people of Zimbabwe.
Minister of Foreign Affairs David Emerson said Canada endorsed the assessment by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that conditions in Zimbabwe would not allow for free and fair elections to take place on June 27 and stated that “the Government of Zimbabwe will not be legitimate without a free and fair vote”.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08OTTAWA874, CANADA JOINS UNSC IN CONDEMNING ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT
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Reference ID |
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VZCZCXRO8180
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #0874 1781533
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261533Z JUN 08 ZDK /// REMOVE CAPTION – ADD PARA MARKINGS ///
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8101
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0030
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0297
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0436
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000874
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y /// REMOVE CAPTION – ADD PARA MARKS ///
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC ZU ZI CA
SUBJECT: CANADA JOINS UNSC IN CONDEMNING ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT
¶1. (U) Summary: Canada endorsed a United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) statement on June 24 condemning the Government of Zimbabwe
for its actions during the current presidential election period.
Canada stated that violence by Zimbabwean state agents had
“contaminated” the election, called for the engagement of African
leaders, pledged to promote firm action against the current
Zimbabwean government, and called on Zimbabwean authorities to
cooperate in finding a peaceful solution to allow the rebuilding of
Zimbabwe and the restoration of regional stability in Southern
Africa. End summary.
¶2. (U) Minister of Foreign Affairs David Emerson issued a statement on
June 24 welcoming the engagement of the UNSC in the electoral
situation in Zimbabwe. In particular, Canada agreed “fully” with
the UNSC presidential statement on June 23 condemning the actions of
the Government of Zimbabwe, including its conclusion that the
results of the March 29 elections must be respected. Canada
endorsed the assessment by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that
conditions in Zimbabwe will not allow for free and fair elections to
take place on June 27 and stated that “the Government of Zimbabwe
will not be legitimate without a free and fair vote.”
¶3. (U) Further, Canada said the “alarming” campaign of human rights
violations and politically motivated violence, committed largely by
state security and paramilitary groups, and restrictions on the
opposition’s ability to campaign freely, have “contaminated” the
electoral environment. Canada re-emphasized the importance of the
engagement of African leaders, particularly those in neighboring
countries, in ensuring respect for democratic principles agreed to
by these African countries.
¶4. (U) Canada endorsed the UNSC’s call on Zimbabwean authorities to
cooperate fully with all efforts to find a peaceful way forward,
through dialogue between the parties, to allow the formation of a
legitimate government that reflects the will of the people of
Zimbabwe. Canada pledged to continue to work with others to promote
firm action against the current Zimbabwe Government.
BREESE
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