Canada pledged to fight Mugabe regime

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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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.

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