EU delegates jets in ahead of sanctions review meeting

European Union has dispatched a high powered delegation to Zimbabwe to assess the situation ahead of an annual meeting where the country's sanctions will be reviewed.

Aldo Dell'Ariccia, EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, said he received a delegation from Brussels, but he insisted that it was a routine visit.

Asked whether the visit was to assess the situation in Zimbabwe ahead of the Brussels sanctions review meeting due in a fortnight, Dell'Ariccia said: "Of course he got some additional submissions on the issue but his visit was not to do with that. As I said, it was a routine visit."

President Mugabe's administration will this month come under international scrutiny as the European Union is set to decide whether or not to lift sanctions placed on Zimbabwe amid reports that discussions were already underway in Brussels.

European head of delegation to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell'Ariccia on Wednesday said a review team was currently engaged in discussions on relations with Zimbabwe in Brussels and determination would be announced later this month.

At the moment, an EU head of division, Angel Carro is in the country on a routine visit to assess what the bloc can do to improve its contribution in terms of the humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, the European Union has cleared President Mugabe to attend the meeting of African Union and EU leaders, but says the decision does not alter the fact that he is on targeted sanctions, together with some of his Zanu-PF cronies.

The 2-day AU-EU summit scheduled for Brussels, Belgium on April-2-3 will explore ways of "strengthening political partnership and enhanced cooperation at all levels."

Dell'Ariccia said Mugabe's attendance will not in any way signal a softening of the EU position on targeted measures imposed on Zimbabwe nor did it suggest the measures have been ineffective.