Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004
79 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps which have been taken by the Government to ameliorate the situation in Zimbabwe concerning the repression of its citizens; and if the Government has had contact with the opposition MDC party. [9478/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU is greatly concerned about repression of the citizens of Zimbabwe. In February 2004, the EU's common position on Zimbabwe noted the deterioration in the human rights situation in that country. Faced with this scenario, the Council renewed sanctions on those individuals whom the EU regards as bearing a major responsibility for serious violations of human rights and of the freedom of opinion, of association and of peaceful assembly. The sanctions are targeted against the political elite and include a travel ban and an assets freeze, as well as a general arms embargo. The Council also expressed its deep concern at legislation in Zimbabwe which seriously infringes citizens' right to freedom of association and assembly, namely, the Public Order and Security Act, POSA. Concern was similarly expressed in relation to the application and provisions of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, AIPPA, which denies freedom of expression and restricts freedom of the press.
As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, departmental officials have had meetings with representatives of the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, including with Morgan Tsvangirai, president of the MDC. They have also met with Mr. Gibson Sibanda, vice president of the MDC on the margins of the UN Commission of Human Rights, UNCHR, when Mr. Sibanda expressed his full support for the draft resolution on human rights in Zimbabwe which was drafted by Ireland as EU Presidency. This resolution will be considered at UNCHR on 15 April 2004. The EU is strongly committed to the welfare of the Zimbabwean people, as evidenced by its donation of €294 million of humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Zimbabwe over the 2002-03 period.
Development Co-operation Ireland, DCI, has also made available over €8 million in emergency and humanitarian assistance for the affected countries in southern Africa in 2002, of which €3 million went directly to Zimbabwe. In 2003, DCI also provided funding of over €2 million to five development projects in Zimbabwe.
