Zimbabwe crisis, Iraq will be focus of talks (Jack Straw visit to South Africa)

Business Day (SA) ^ | May 12, 2003 | International Affairs Editor

[Clive]

THE crisis in Zimbabwe and the post-Iraq war role of multilateralism are likely to form much of the focus of talks between British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma this week.

Straw arrives in SA tomorrow for a two-day visit along with UK Education Minister Stephen Twigg and Environment Minister Michael Meacher.

UK officials are stressing that the talks will not be bogged down by differences between the UK and SA on their approach to Zimbabwe, and will cover a range of other issues, including peace efforts in the Great Lakes region, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) and the recently unveiled road map for peace in the Middle East.

SA continues to resist publicly the idea supported by the UK that increased pressure on Harare is required to resolve the crisis.

In a signal that President Thabo Mbeki is intent on quashing speculation that pressure is about to be applied to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, he stressed in his weekly letter on the African National Congress (ANC) website that Zimbabweans should determine their own future, and the country's problems were not the result "of a reckless political leadership".

The meeting will mark the first time in-depth talks have been held between the two ministers, but come at a time of speculation in London that Straw may soon leave the foreign secretary post to become chancellor of the exchequer in a soon to be announced cabinet reshuffle.

SA and UK officials say the talks were arranged earlier this year, prior to the Iraq war, at a meeting between Mbeki and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in the UK. The talks come less than a month ahead of a Group of Eight meeting in Evian, France, at which the leaders of the advanced industrial countries will be looking at what has been achieved under the auspices of Nepad since last year's meeting.

Last month, Valerie Amos, the UK's top minister for Africa, warned African countries that the situation in Zimbabwe was making it increasingly difficult to promote Nepad. She said the "lowkey" pressure being brought to bear on Harare by African countries was "bedevilling" developed countries' relations with Africa.

In a public address on Iraq, multilateralism and the international rule of law, Straw is expected to seek common ground with SA on an enhanced role for the United Nations.

The trip presents a chance to ease strains that arose over Iraq as well as over the foreign office warning last year on the risk to British nationals from global terrorism in SA.

Straw will also attend a memorial service for deceased ANC stalwart Walter Sisulu and pay the president a courtesy visit.

[Clive]

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[tomball]

In a signal that President Thabo Mbeki is intent on quashing speculation that pressure is about to be applied to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, he stressed in his weekly letter on the African National Congress (ANC) website that Zimbabweans should determine their own future, and the country's problems were not the result "of a reckless political leadership".

 

The UN made real sure  Mugabe and his buddies got they wanted.  Especially during the years between 1992 and 1999, "reckless political leadership" is all the African people have known, and today that is all they can get.  Strange how ignorant, power-hungry thugs have no problem taking over a town or a country and no one does anything about it.  The abuses of UN and US money used to fund Saddam's food for arms program  in Iraq pale in comparison to what has been done, and is still being done to the people in Africa.  UN endorsed the Mugabe-types who through terrorist tactics ran farmers and their help off their farms to set their cronies into position.

Political cronies don't know how to farm, so they cry to the UN for help, then the UN demands the US send more money to feed their "starving" people.  Dictators steal the money that is supposed to be used for humanitarian aid, then they send in their thugs to steal food. 

This is an industry created created specifically to enrich those in power who were never elected to office.  You can pretty much bet that there are those in the UN who get some kind of kick-back for their help in the "save-the-starving-people-program" they created.  As long as the US remains in the UN, the US will be viewed as a participant in this insanity.