Posted on 01/16/2004 1:20:26 PM PST by Clive
Brussels, Belgium - The European Parliament called on European Union governments to toughen sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Thursday, arguing that existing restrictions have done little to change Mugabe's human rights record.
In a joint resolution adopted by 66 votes with 4 against and 2 abstentions at the end of the session, the EU assembly urged EU governments "to adopt a more active and urgent approach to the Zimbabwe disaster, to include renewal of targeted sanctions."
The parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, France, called for an extension and tightening of existing travel bans on Mugabe and his ministers.
It said a more "vigorous enforcement" of the restrictions and demanded European countries strictly enforce the visa ban. The vote also called for widening sanctions to include those who financially supported Mugabe's political Zanu-PF party.
"Conditions in Zimbabwe are now spiralling out of control," said British conservative Geoffrey Van Orden. "Mugabe and his Zanu-PF cronies have systematically pillaged and brutalised the once prosperous country of Zimbabwe. We need to set the people of Zimbabwe free."
The parliament also criticised last year's visit of Mugabe to Paris on the invitation of French President Jacques Chirac, who asked for a suspension of the travel ban on Mugabe to EU nations, so the Zimbabwean leader could attend a Franco-African summit there.
The resolution comes as EU Foreign Ministers prepare to reassess their sanctions against Zimbabwe which are due to expire on February 20.
Last year, Paris threatened to block the extension of sanctions against Mugabe if it did not get an exemption for the Zimbabwean leader to travel to France.
The issue caused deep divisions between London and Paris over how strict the EU sanctions against Zimbabwe should be.
Britain, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden have all pushed for tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe and are expected to back stricter ones this time around again.
EU nations slapped diplomatic sanctions against Mugabe two years ago, imposing an EU visa travel ban on Mugabe and other Zimbabwean officials and an arms sale ban on Zimbabwe. They also froze Zimbabwean assets in Europe after failing to get Mugabe to improve human rights and reverse policies that have created a massive food crisis in a country that was once southern Africa's breadbasket.
Mugabe has cracked down on the independent press, the judiciary, opposition officials and human rights workers in recent years.
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