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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

180 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps which can be taken to respond to the atrocities by the regime in Zimbabwe; and if he will make it clear that the corrupt and illegal activities of President Robert Mugabe are condemned and that his fraudulent electoral activities are not recognised. [1827/02]

The Government remains deeply concerned at the poor human rights situation in Zimbabwe. With our European Union partners, we have consistently called upon the government of Zimbabwe to put an end to the violence and intimidation, and to ensure full respect for democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law.

As the Deputy will be aware, the EU has been engaged in a dialogue with the Zimbabwean government since March 2001. The General Affairs Council on 25 June 2001 noted the lack of substantial progress in the dialogue and stressed the need for rapid and tangible results in the following five areas: an end to political violence; an invitation to the EU to support and observe coming elections; concrete action to protect the freedom of the mass media; independence of the judiciary; and an end to the illegal occupation of properties.

At the General Affairs Council on 29 October 2001, my EU colleagues and I noted that Zimbabwe had made no visible progress on these issues and we therefore decided to intensify discussions with Zimbabwe by launching the consultation procedure provided for in Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. Article 96 is invoked in cases where a party to the agreement is considered to have failed to respect human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. The European Council meeting in Laeken in December made a pressing appeal to the Zimbabwean Government to take all the action needed to improve the situation immediately, particularly with a view to the Article 96 consultations.

On 11 January, the EU and Zimbabwe met in Brussels for consultations on the five areas of concern outlined by the General Affairs Council on 25 June. The Zimbabwean delegation, which included Minister for Foreign Affairs Mudenge, expressed a willingness to go some way towards meeting the EU concerns, which Minister Mudenge later confirmed in writing. However, serious violations of human rights have continued to occur in the intervening period and little progress has been made in allowing access for international observers and the media.

At the General Affairs Council on 28 January, my EU colleagues and I decided that we would close the Article 96 consultations and implement targeted sanctions if: the Government of Zimbabwe prevents the deployment of an EU observation mission starting by 3 February 2002, or if it later prevents the mission from operating effectively; likewise, if the Government of Zimbabwe prevents the international media from having free access to cover the election; or there is a serious deterioration in the situation on the ground, in terms of worsening of the human rights situation or attacks on the opposition; or the election is assessed as not being free and fair.

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