Belgium pushes EU to lift sanctions

Belgium, centre of the global diamond trade, today demanded that the European Union lift sanctions on the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation arguing that EU foreign ministers agreed in February to lift sanctions on ZMDC within a month of the poll unless EU governments unanimously agreed the vote was not “peaceful, transparent and credible”. The EU has expressed “serious concerns” over the alleged irregularities. However, Belgium argues that the EU has not refused to recognise the election and so the February agreement must be respected and sanctions on ZMDC lifted. “For us, there is an agreement,” Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hendrik van de Velde said.

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