News / National
'New EU ambassadors coming into Zim contaminated by old ones'
10 Oct 2013 at 12:13hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe says the sanctions imposed by Britain and her European Union (EU) allies are impeding economic relations between Zimbabwe and the 27-member block.
Speaking during the presentation of credentials by four new ambassadors from Europe and two from African countries at State House in Harare on Thursday, the President said the sanctions are hindering the restoration and expansion of ties with the block as Zimbabwe goes through a new phase of its economic development.
Mugabe also said the new ambassadors coming into the country are contaminated by old ones and cited the so-called 'friends of Zimbabwe' who are bent on maintaining the illegal sanctions which he said are harming the ordinary people in the country.
First to present himself to the President was the new French ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Laurent Delahouse.
Sources close to the meeting held between President Mugabe and Mr Delahouse said the President made it clear that his demand for the removal of sanctions does not relate to individuals but to the country's economic interaction as they affect the marketing of Zimbabwe's mineral wealth, agricultural and horticultural produce and the acquisition of machinery for the country's economic development.
Mugabe said France's continued cooperation in the provision of humanitarian assistance and its support in the provision of energy through the Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Project are an expression of France's willingness to reengage Zimbabwe despite the sanctions.
The President also clarified the issue of bilateral investment protection and promotion agreements, saying the agreements do not disallow land acquisition under the land reform programme but such investments can be negotiated and quickly compensated if the land is acquired.
President Mugabe expressed optimism in future French-Zimbabwe relations saying: "We must look at the future and the need for sanctions to go. We don't want to visit Paris, I don't want your girls, I don't want to visit for romantic purposes. But I want to develop relations between us. We want sanctions to be removed so that we can export beef, flowers and other greens."
In the same meeting, President Mugabe lamented Britain's ill-will against Zimbabwe and how the British media continues to fan hostility and said that makes it difficult for the British government to find a re-engagement strategy.
The French Ambassador said the sanctions are under a review process which is going in a positive direction and cited the recent delisting of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).
Mugabe then explained that the removal of sanctions on the ZMDC was for the benefit of Belgium and the whole EU block and not necessarily for Zimbabwe.
The French Ambassador admitted that more and more members of the EU are beginning to side with Zimbabwe that the land dispute which they were mobilised into was a purely bilateral dispute between the Southern African country and Britain.
"We now need a new strategy to view Zimbabwe outside sanctions. But it will take a long time, it takes two to tango," said Ambassador Delahouse.
Mr Delahouse pronounced clearly that his country has no problem with the indigenisation policy, saying it is the only way of underpinning stability in Zimbabwe, adding that he wants to engage Zimbabwe as a friend.
In the same meeting, President Mugabe questioned the way Europe is behaving towards African nations where it takes every opportunity to interfere and meddle in African affairs yet international law say that all nations, big and small, are equal according to the UN Charter.
He accused them of imposing their own standards, saying the continent which has its own culture and standards is heading for conflict with Europe.
President Mugabe also accepted credentials from the new ambassador of Netherlands to Zimbabwe, Gera Sneller who gave her assurance for cooperation in the sectors of agriculture and human expertise.
"Let's get to trade, let our flowers find a home in the Netherlands and let our greens find a market in your country but as long as there are sanctions, this will be difficult," President Mugabe told Ambassador Sneller
Mugabe continued telling the Dutch ambassador that there are those who brag that they have removed some individuals from sanctions, adding that it is not what Zimbabwe wants but smooth trade between the two nations.
Ambassador Sneller said there are some companies that are keen to come to Zimbabwe from his country.
Other ambassadors who also presented their letters of credence to President Mugabe were the ambassador of Sudan, Mr Hamdan Wadi Daldoom, Mr Ulrich Wilhelm Klockner of Germany, Mr Bard Hopland of Norway and Namibia's Balbina Daes Piennnar.
Speaking during the presentation of credentials by four new ambassadors from Europe and two from African countries at State House in Harare on Thursday, the President said the sanctions are hindering the restoration and expansion of ties with the block as Zimbabwe goes through a new phase of its economic development.
Mugabe also said the new ambassadors coming into the country are contaminated by old ones and cited the so-called 'friends of Zimbabwe' who are bent on maintaining the illegal sanctions which he said are harming the ordinary people in the country.
First to present himself to the President was the new French ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Laurent Delahouse.
Sources close to the meeting held between President Mugabe and Mr Delahouse said the President made it clear that his demand for the removal of sanctions does not relate to individuals but to the country's economic interaction as they affect the marketing of Zimbabwe's mineral wealth, agricultural and horticultural produce and the acquisition of machinery for the country's economic development.
Mugabe said France's continued cooperation in the provision of humanitarian assistance and its support in the provision of energy through the Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Project are an expression of France's willingness to reengage Zimbabwe despite the sanctions.
The President also clarified the issue of bilateral investment protection and promotion agreements, saying the agreements do not disallow land acquisition under the land reform programme but such investments can be negotiated and quickly compensated if the land is acquired.
President Mugabe expressed optimism in future French-Zimbabwe relations saying: "We must look at the future and the need for sanctions to go. We don't want to visit Paris, I don't want your girls, I don't want to visit for romantic purposes. But I want to develop relations between us. We want sanctions to be removed so that we can export beef, flowers and other greens."
In the same meeting, President Mugabe lamented Britain's ill-will against Zimbabwe and how the British media continues to fan hostility and said that makes it difficult for the British government to find a re-engagement strategy.
The French Ambassador said the sanctions are under a review process which is going in a positive direction and cited the recent delisting of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).
The French Ambassador admitted that more and more members of the EU are beginning to side with Zimbabwe that the land dispute which they were mobilised into was a purely bilateral dispute between the Southern African country and Britain.
"We now need a new strategy to view Zimbabwe outside sanctions. But it will take a long time, it takes two to tango," said Ambassador Delahouse.
Mr Delahouse pronounced clearly that his country has no problem with the indigenisation policy, saying it is the only way of underpinning stability in Zimbabwe, adding that he wants to engage Zimbabwe as a friend.
In the same meeting, President Mugabe questioned the way Europe is behaving towards African nations where it takes every opportunity to interfere and meddle in African affairs yet international law say that all nations, big and small, are equal according to the UN Charter.
He accused them of imposing their own standards, saying the continent which has its own culture and standards is heading for conflict with Europe.
President Mugabe also accepted credentials from the new ambassador of Netherlands to Zimbabwe, Gera Sneller who gave her assurance for cooperation in the sectors of agriculture and human expertise.
"Let's get to trade, let our flowers find a home in the Netherlands and let our greens find a market in your country but as long as there are sanctions, this will be difficult," President Mugabe told Ambassador Sneller
Mugabe continued telling the Dutch ambassador that there are those who brag that they have removed some individuals from sanctions, adding that it is not what Zimbabwe wants but smooth trade between the two nations.
Ambassador Sneller said there are some companies that are keen to come to Zimbabwe from his country.
Other ambassadors who also presented their letters of credence to President Mugabe were the ambassador of Sudan, Mr Hamdan Wadi Daldoom, Mr Ulrich Wilhelm Klockner of Germany, Mr Bard Hopland of Norway and Namibia's Balbina Daes Piennnar.
Source - zbc
