News / National
Zimbabwe - EU re-engagement: No progress
12 Jul 2011 at 05:12hrs | Views
Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs Minister says no progress has been made in that regard since the opening of the dialogue three years ago.
Mumbengegwi is the chairman of the re-engagement committee setup by the inclusive government to spearhead the Zimbabwe - European Union dialogue aimed at normalising relations between the two sides.
Minister Mumbengegwi said several meetings have been held between the EU head of delegation in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean team, but there is no sign of change of stance.
Dialogue between Zimbabwe and the European Union was launched in July 2009 when a Zimbabwean Ministerial team of the inclusive government travelled to Washington, London and the EU headquarters in Brussels to lobby for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The re-engagement team, including Minister Patrick Chinamasa of Zanu PF, Elton Mangoma of the MDC-T and Mrs Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga of the MDC followed up the initiative with two other meetings in the western capitals, with the last one held in July last year when they met the EU Foreign Minister, Baroness Catherine Ashton in Brussels.
Contrary to the views of SADC, Africa, NAM and the rest of the developing world, the EU is insisting on maintaining the sanctions alleging lack of progress in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement.
Mumbengegwi said the European Union has no right to supervise the implantation of the GPA because as it not a signatory to the agreement which was signed by the major political parties in Zimbabwe.
Mumbengegwi is the chairman of the re-engagement committee setup by the inclusive government to spearhead the Zimbabwe - European Union dialogue aimed at normalising relations between the two sides.
Minister Mumbengegwi said several meetings have been held between the EU head of delegation in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean team, but there is no sign of change of stance.
Dialogue between Zimbabwe and the European Union was launched in July 2009 when a Zimbabwean Ministerial team of the inclusive government travelled to Washington, London and the EU headquarters in Brussels to lobby for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The re-engagement team, including Minister Patrick Chinamasa of Zanu PF, Elton Mangoma of the MDC-T and Mrs Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga of the MDC followed up the initiative with two other meetings in the western capitals, with the last one held in July last year when they met the EU Foreign Minister, Baroness Catherine Ashton in Brussels.
Contrary to the views of SADC, Africa, NAM and the rest of the developing world, the EU is insisting on maintaining the sanctions alleging lack of progress in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement.
Mumbengegwi said the European Union has no right to supervise the implantation of the GPA because as it not a signatory to the agreement which was signed by the major political parties in Zimbabwe.
Source - zbc
