Mudenge tells EU Zimbabwe will not be bullied


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Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge told the European Union that Zimbabwe was not happy with the arbitrary and unilateral manner in which it was making demands rather than seeking mutual consultations with Harare because this was a violation of the spirit of the partnership envisaged under the Cotonou Agreement.

“We believe that ‘demanding’ or ‘insisting’ on the sending EU observers to observe our presidential elections is not consistent with the spirit of the Cotonou Agreement. To impose time frames in which this must be done is imperious and contrary to the spirit of partnership,” he said.

Mudenge was responding to an ultimatum that the EU had given to Zimbabwe.

He said even the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe was against the spirit of the Cotonou Agreement because they did not promote the partnership.

Mudenge said the EU should also not view violence as one sided, only being perpetrated by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front. The opposition was equally to blame.

He complained that some members of the EU were opening funding the opposition and Zimbabwe had raised this concern.

Two EU ambassadors to Zimbabwe described Mudenge’s letter as “rubbish” and “garbage”.

 

Full cable:


Viewing cable 02HARARE204, LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM

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Reference ID

Created

Released

Classification

Origin

02HARARE204

2002-01-22 14:01

2011-08-30 01:44

CONFIDENTIAL

Embassy Harare

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

 

221401Z Jan 02

 

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ9309

 

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——————5B33A9 221424Z /38

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0760

INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY

NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 000204

 

SIPDIS

 

STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR

AF/S

NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER

PARIS FOR NEARY

LONDON FOR GURNEY

STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU

SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM

FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE

 

 

CLASSIFIED BY DCM REWHITEHEAD DUE TO 1.5 (B) AND (D).

 

 

1. (C) THE GOZ SUBMITTED A LETTER FROM FOREIGN MINISTER

MUDENGE TO THE EU IN HARARE AT 8:00 P.M. ON JANUARY 18,

JUST HOURS BEFORE EXPIRATION OF THE ONE-WEEK DEADLINE

IMPOSED BY THE EU DURING ITS JANUARY 11 ARTICLE 96

CONSULTATIONS WITH A MUDENGE-LED GOZ DELEGATION. THE

LETTER WAS NOT SIGNED BY MUDENGE, WHO WAS ABSENT FROM

ZIMBABWE WHEN THE LETTER WAS DELIVERED. BRITISH HIGH

COMMISSIONER DONNELLY AND SWEDISH COUNSELOR FOUM

PROVIDED COPIES OF THE LETTER AND THEIR COMMENTS TO DCM

ON JANUARY 21. THEY CHARACTERIZED THE LETTER AS

“RUBBISH” AND “GARBAGE”, RESPECTIVELY, AND LISTED THE

FOLLOWING SHORTCOMINGS.

 

2. (C) ON THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, THE

LETTER CITED RECENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY MUGABE, VARIOUS

MINISTERS, AND THE ZIMBABWEAN COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

CRITICAL OF VIOLENCE — AND ALSO THE GOZ’S AGREEMENT IN

BLANTYRE TO LAUNCH A PEACE CAMPAIGN — AS EVIDENCE OF

THE GOZ’S GOOD FAITH. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT THE

GOZ “IS READY TO CONSIDER” A PROPOSAL TO SEEK AGREEMENT

(WITH THE OPPOSITION) ON AN ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT.

ON ELECTIONS, THE LETTER CLAIMS THAT THE AMENDED

ELECTORAL LAW STRENGTHENS THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY

COMMISSION AND, THOUGH NOT STATED, PRESUMABLY OBVIATES

THE NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION. THE

LETTER CONFIRMS THAT THE GOZ PLANS TO INVITE NATIONAL,

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, THE LATTER DRAWN

FROM THE ACP/EU, SADC, OAU/AU, COMMONWEALTH, AND THE

UNITED NATIONS. THERE IS NO MENTION OF A START-UP DATE

OR WHEN FORMAL INVITATIONS WILL BE DELIVERED.

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 00204 01 OF 04 221423Z

3. (C) THE MUDENGE LETTER NEXT ADDRESSES FREEDOM OF THE

MEDIA, CLAIMING THAT THE EXISTENCE OF A “VIGOROUS AND

COMBATIVE” PRIVATE MEDIA ILLUSTRATES THE FREEDOM OF THE

PRESS. IT ATTACKS TWO “PRO-MDC SHORT-WAVE RADIO STATION

…BEAMING INCITING, ANTI-ZIMBABWE PROPAGANDA…FROM THE

UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS” AND QUOTES THE

JANUARY 14 COMMUNIQUE FROM SADC LEADERS EXPRESSING

CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE. THIS SECTION OF THE LETTER

AFFIRMS THE GOZ PRACTICE OF LETTING INTERNATIONAL

CORRESPONDENTS COVER NATIONAL EVENTS “ON THE BASIS OF

(GOZ) LAWS AND REGULATIONS.” THE LETTER REJECTS

ALLEGATIONS THAT THE GOZ HAS INTERFERED WITH THE

JUDICIARY AND CLAIMS THAT NO FURTHER ILLEGAL FARM

OCCUPATION HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE CONCLUSION OF THE

ABUJA AGREEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2001. THE DOCUMENT

CONCLUDES WITH A LENGTHY EXPRESSION OF GOZ CONCERN OVER

THE ARBITRARY AND UNILATERAL APPROACH THE EU HAS TAKEN,

AND CALLS FOR FURTHER DIALOGUE.

 

4. (C) EU AMBASSADORS MET ON JANUARY 19 TO DRAFT A

COMMON RESPONSE TO MUDENGE’S LETTER, TO BE CLEARED WITH

THEIR CAPITALS. FOUM, WHO ATTENDED THIS MEETING,

OFFERED TO PASS US A COPY WHEN IT IS IN FINAL. HE NOTED

THAT THE DATE OF THE JANUARY 28 GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL

COINCIDES WITH THE SIX-WEEK PERIOD IDENTIFIED BY THE EU

AS THE MINIMUM TIME NECESSARY FOR ELECTION OBSERVATION.

HE SAID THAT IF THE GOZ CONTINUES ITS FOOT-DRAGGING, HE

BELIEVES THAT THE GAC COULD CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON

SOME STILL UNSPECIFIED SANCTIONS.

 

5. (C) COMMENT. THERE IS STILL NO CONSENSUS ON WHAT

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 00204 01 OF 04 221423Z

COMES NEXT AMONG EU DIPLOMATS HERE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A

NEAR UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT THAT THE GOZ IS NOT ACTING IN

GOOD FAITH AND THAT GOZ RHETORIC HAS DONE LITTLE TO CURB

ONGOING VIOLENCE. THE SAMPLING OF EU DIPLOMATS WITH

WHOM WE HAVE SPOKEN PREDICT THAT THE JANUARY 28 GAC MAY

WELL BE PIVOTAL, AND CONTINUED USG CONSULTATION WITH EU

STATES WILL BE IMPORTANT DURING THE INTERVENING PERIOD.

END COMMENT.

 

6. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF MUDENGE LETTER:

 

18 JANUARY 2002

 

THE HONORABLE JOSEP PIQUE

PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE EU

 

MR. PRESIDENT

 

I HAVE THE HONOR TO WRITE TO YOU AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE

FIRST ROUND OF THE ZIMBABWE-EU CONSULTATIONS HELD IN

BRUSSELS ON 11 JANUARY 2002.

 

NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

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NFAT-00 SAS-00     /002W

——————5B33B8 221424Z /38

O 221401Z JAN 02

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0761

INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY

NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

 

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 000204

 

SIPDIS

 

STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR

AF/S

NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER

PARIS FOR NEARY

LONDON FOR GURNEY

STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU

SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM

FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE

 

I WISH TO RECALL THAT WHILE ZIMBABWE ADDRESSED A NUMBER

OF EU CONCERNS DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, WE ALSO RAISED

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 00204 02 OF 04 221424Z

THREE MAJOR CONCERNS ON WHICH WE EARNESTLY EXPECT A

RESPONSE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION.

 

I SUBMIT, IN THIS LETTER, A CONCISE SURVEY OF THE

PRINCIPAL POINTS COVERED DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, IN

PARTICULAR ZIMBABWE’S ACTIONS AND COMMITMENTS ON THOSE

ISSUES. I ALSO OUTLINE THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE

GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE WITH REGARD TO THE CONDUCT OF THE

EUROPEAN UNION AND CERTAIN OF ITS MEMBER STATES, AND HOW

SUCH CONDUCT HAS NOT HELPED PROMOTE THE PARTNERSHIP

ENVISAGED IN THE ACP-EU PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.

 

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

 

THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS AGAINST VIOLENCE, AND WILL

CONTINUE TO DO ITS UTMOST TO BRING THIS PHENOMENON TO A

STOP. AS I WRITE TO YOU, HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT

ROBERT MUGABE AND HIS GOVERNMENT, AND LAW AND ORDER

ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES ARE CONSTANTLY AND PUBLICLY

APPEALING AGAINST VIOLENCE, AND FOR A PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN

IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. I ATTACH,

FOR YOUR REFERENCE, A COPY OF A STATEMENT MADE RECENTLY

BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN

AGAINST VIOLENCE.

 

THE POLICE COMMISSIONER’S “BRIEFING ON POLICING AND THE

RULE OF LAW IN ZIMBABWE”, WHICH I SUBMITTED AS A

CONFERENCE DOCUMENT DURING THE CONSULTATIONS,

DEMONSTRATES MOST AMPLY ZIMBABWE’S COMMITMENT TO

INVESTIGATE FULLY AND IMPARTIALLY ALL CASES OF ALLEGED

POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 00204 02 OF 04 221424Z

 

WITH REGARD TO POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE, WE TAKE

EXCEPTION TO CRITICISM LEVELED ONLY AGAINST THE RULING

PARTY, AS IF TO SUGGEST THAT VIOLENCE BY THE OPPOSITION

IS CONDONED. SUCH A PARTISAN STANCE FUELS VIOLENCE IN

OUR SOCIETY AND IS THEREFORE MOST UNHELPFUL. WE,

THEREFORE, URGE THE EU TO TAKE A BALANCED APPROACH AND

CONDEMN VIOLENCE FROM WHATEVER QUARTER IT COMES.

 

AS WE MADE CLEAR DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, THE

GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS PURSUING THE SADC PROPOSAL TO

PROMOTE INCLUSIVE POLITICAL DIALOGUE. AT THEIR RECENT

SUMMIT IN BLANTYRE, MALAWI, SADC LEADERS “NOTED WITH

APPRECIATION THE COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF

ZIMBABWE TO LAUNCH A PEACE CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD INCLUDE

THE OPPOSITION AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS”.

 

THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS READY TO CONSIDER THE

PROPOSAL TO SEEK AGREEMENT ON AND PROMOTE A CODE OF

CONDUCT FOR ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES. GOVERNMENT HAS

ALREADY APPROACHED THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION

TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK IN CONSULTATION WITH ALL POLITICAL

PARTIES.

 

ELECTIONS

 

HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE HAS GIVEN

ASSURANCES THAT THE FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

SCHEDULED FOR 9 AND 10 MARCH 2002 WILL BE FREE AND FAIR.

AT THEIR BLANTYRE SUMMIT ON 14 JANUARY 2002, SADC

LEADERS “WELCOMED THE ASSURANCES BY PRESIDENT MUGABE

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 00204 02 OF 04 221424Z

THAT THE FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED

FOR 9 AND 10 MARCH 2002 WILL BE FREE AND FAIR. SUMMIT

NOTED THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT

OF ZIMBABWE TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE

MANAGEMENT OF THE ELECTIONS”.

 

IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF

ZIMBABWE, THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION HAS THE

PREROGATIVE AND MANDATE TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN

ZIMBABWE. THROUGH THE RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE

ELECTORAL LAW, THE GOVERNMENT HAS STRENGTHENED THE

ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION, AND PROVIDED

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ENABLE IT TO CARRY OUT ITS

CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

 

I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INVITING NATIONAL,

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS FROM

GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE OF ACP/EU MEMBERS STATES,

AS WELL AS FROM REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

SUCH AS SADC, OAU(AU), COMMONWEALTH AND THE UNITED

NATIONS.

 

NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

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ACTION AF-00

 

INFO LOG-00   NP-00   AMAD-00 ACQ-00   CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00

VC-00   TEDE-00 INR-00   VCE-00   M-00     NSAE-00 SSO-00

SS-00   DSCC-00 DRL-02   NFAT-00 SAS-00     /002W

——————5B33C4 221424Z /38

O 221401Z JAN 02

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0762

INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY

NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

 

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 000204

 

SIPDIS

 

STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR

AF/S

NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER

PARIS FOR NEARY

LONDON FOR GURNEY

STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU

SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM

FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE

 

FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA

 

THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 00204 03 OF 04 221424Z

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AS GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION

OF ZIMBABWE. IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL FAIR-

MINDED OBSERVERS THAT THE EXISTENCE OF A VIGOROUS AND

COMBATIVE PRIVATELY OWNED MEDIA IN ZIMBABWE, WHICH IS

PARTLY FOREIGN OWNED AND FINANCED, ILLUSTRATES THE

FREEDOM ENJOYED BY NEWSPAPERS IN THE COUNTRY.

 

DURING ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, ZIMBABWE’S PUBLIC MEDIA

ACCORDS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THAT IS, EQUAL AIRTIME TO ALL

CONTESTING POLITICAL PARTIES. WHAT IS OF CONCERN TO

ZIMBABWE IS THAT SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR, TWO PRO-MDC

SHORT-WAVE RADIO STATIONS HAVE BEEN BEAMING INCITING,

ANTI-ZIMBABWE PROPAGANDA AND PRO-MDC MESSAGES FROM THE

UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS. THIS CONSTITUTES

GROSS INTERFERENCE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS. WE APPEAL

TO THE EU TO PREVAIL UPON THESE TWO OF THEIR MEMBERS TO

DESIST FROM THIS PROVOCATIVE AND HOSTILE ACTIVITY

FORTHWITH, OTHERWISE ASKING ZIMBABWE TO ENSURE EQUAL

TIME IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES WOULD

BE INTERPRETED AS CYNICAL AND HYPOCRITICAL.

 

IN THEIR COMMUNIQUE’ OF 14 JANUARY 2002, SADC LEADERS

“EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE FACT THAT SOME WESTERN

COUNTRIES HAVE AUTHORIZED THE BROADCASTING FROM THEIR

TERRITORIES BY THEIR NATIONALS OF HOSTILE AND INCITING

PROPAGANDA AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF

ZIMBABWE”. THE SUMMIT CALLED ON THOSE COUNTRIES TO

DESIST FROM SUCH ACTIONS.

 

ZIMBABWE FURTHER REAFFIRMS ITS PRACTICE OF ALLOWING

JOURNALISTS, BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL, TO COVER

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 00204 03 OF 04 221424Z

IMPORTANT NATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING ELECTIONS, ON THE

BASIS OF ITS LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

 

INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY

 

GOVERNMENT UPHOLDS THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY.

SECTION 84 OF THE CONSTITUTION VESTS IN THE PRESIDENT

THE POWER TO APPOINT JUDGES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE

JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION. PARLIAMENT MUST BE

INFORMED OF JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS WHICH ARE NOT

CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUDICIAL

SERVICE COMMISSION. SUCH A SITUATION HAS NOT ARISEN IN

ZIMBABWE IN 21 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. THEREFORE,

ALLEGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE INTERFERING WITH THE

JUDICIARY ARE NOT ONLY ILL FOUNDED BUT ALSO MALICIOUS AS

THEY LACK SUBSTANCE.

 

CONTRARY TO FALSEHOODS BEING WIDELY PROPAGATED BY THE

ANTI-ZIMBABWE MEDIA, THERE IS NO DECISION OF THE

JUDICIARY THAT REMAINS UNIMPLEMENTED BY MY GOVERNMENT.

 

ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PROPERTIES

 

THERE IS NO MORE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF FARMS OR ANY

PROPERTIES, AS THERE HAVE BEEN NO FRESH FARM OCCUPATIONS

SINCE THE ABUJA CONSULTATIONS WERE REACHED ON 6

SEPTEMBER 2001. MOMENTUM HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE

MOVEMENT OF OCCUPIERS OF UNDESIGNATED FARMS ONTO LEGALLY

ACQUIRED LAND.

 

ZIMBABWE’S CONCERNS

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 00204 03 OF 04 221424Z

 

IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT THE DELEGATION OF ZIMBABWE

RAISED THREE CONCERNS WITH THE EU, NAMELY: POLITICAL

INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ZIMBABWE; THE

NATURE OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ZIMBABWE AND THE EU; AND

INFORMAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY CERTAIN EU MEMBER STATES.

 

CERTAIN EU MEMBER STATES, IN PARTICULAR BRITAIN, HAVE

FUNDED OPPOSITION PARTIES, PARTICULARLY THE MDC,

INCLUDING FOR CAMPAIGNING IN THE RUN-UP TO THE

FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. SUCH ACTION CLEARLY

CONSTITUTES BLATANT INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS

OF ZIMBABWE, AND REMOVES THE MORAL GROUNDS FOR THE

VIOLATING STATES TO CLAIM A ROLE AS NEUTRAL OBSERVERS IN

ZIMBABWE’S ELECTIONS. IN ADDITION, SINCE DECEMBER LAST

YEAR, TWO PRO-MDC SHORT-WAVE RADIO STATIONS HAVE BEEN

BEAMING ANTI-ZIMBABWE PROPAGANDA AND PRO-MDC MESSAGES

FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS. THIS HAS

GIVEN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO THE MDC AND CONSTITUTES

GROSS INTERFERENCE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS. WE APPEAL

TO THE EU TO PREVAIL ON THESE TWO MEMBERS TO DESIST FROM

 

NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ9310

 

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ACTION AF-00

 

INFO LOG-00   NP-00   AMAD-00 ACQ-00   CIAE-00 USNW-00 DODE-00

DS-00   VC-00   TEDE-00 INR-00   IO-00   VCE-00   M-00

NSAE-00 SSO-00   SS-00   DSCC-00 DRL-02   NFAT-00 SAS-00

/002W

——————5B33C8 221424Z /38

O 221401Z JAN 02

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0763

INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY

NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

 

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 000204

 

SIPDIS

 

STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR

AF/S

NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER

PARIS FOR NEARY

LONDON FOR GURNEY

STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU

SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM

FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE

 

THIS PROVOCATIVE ACTIVITY FORTHWITH, OTHERWISE ASKING

ZIMBABWE TO ENSURE EQUAL TIME IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA TO ALL

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 00204 04 OF 04 221424Z

POLITICAL PARTIES WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS CYNICAL AND

HYPOCRITICAL.

 

THE ARBITRARY AND UNILATERAL MANNER IN WHICH THE EU

MOVED THE DIALOGUE WITH ZIMBABWE FROM ARTICLE 8 TO

ARTICLE 96 PROVISIONS, AS WELL AS THE MAKING OF DEMANDS

RATHER THAN SEEKING MUTUAL CONSULTATIONS ARE, IN OUR

VIEW, A VIOLATION OF THE SPIRIT OF THE PARTNERSHIP

ENVISAGED IN THE COTONOU AGREEMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT

“DEMANDING” OR “INSISTING” ON THE SENDING OF EU

OBSERVERS TO OBSERVE OUR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS NOT

CONSISTENT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT. TO

IMPOSE TIME FRAMES IN WHICH THIS MUST BE DONE IS

IMPERIOUS AND CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP. IF

OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT ON THESE

PARTICULAR POINTS IS DEEMED TO BE INCORRECT, THEN WE

WOULD BE READY FOR A DETERMINATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH

THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT.

 

INFORMAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON ZIMBABWE BY CERTAIN EU

MEMBER STATES DO NOT PROMOTE THE CO-OPERATION AND

PARTNERSHIP ENVISAGED UNDER THE COTONOU AGREEMENT, WHOSE

THRUST INCLUDES TRADE, AND DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION. IN

THE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP, I REQUEST YOU TO ASK THOSE

COUNTRIES THAT HAVE IMPOSED THESE INFORMAL SANCTIONS TO

DROP THEM. SUCH A REVERSAL WOULD FURTHER PROMOTE AN

ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE FOR A PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

 

MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS PERTINENT THAT I POINT OUT THAT OUR

DIALOGUE IS NOT LIMITED TO WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AND

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 00204 04 OF 04 221424Z

DOCUMENTATION. IT IS MY EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL KEEP

ALL LINES AND FORMS OF COMMUNICATION OPEN BETWEEN US IN

THE SPIRIT AND LETTER OF THE RELATIONS WE SHARE UNDER

THE ACP-EU PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. I ENCLOSE A

COMMUNIQUE’ OF A RECENT SADC SUMMIT AT WHICH SOME OF THE

ISSUES COVERED IN THIS LETTER WERE ALSO ADDRESSED.

 

ACCEPT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST

ESTEEM.

 

ISG MUDENGE

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

 

END TEXT.

 

SULLIVAN

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

>

 

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Charles Rukuni
The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

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