The Bush administration is standing by its assertion that the Mbeki
government was on the wrong side of history when it voted against last
week’s draft U.N. sanctions resolution, and says it is not apologetic about
Ambassador Khalilzad’s critical remarks.
South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said Tuesday his government
would seek an apology over what he said were extraordinary and unacceptable
comments by Khalilzad in the Security Council, after the resolution was
vetoed by Russia and China.
South Africa also opposed the resolution, which would have put financial and
travel sanctions on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and key associates
for political repression in connection with Mr. Mugabe’s recent re-election.
Among other things, Ambassador Khalilzad expressed surprise over what he
said was Mr. Mbeki’s apparent protection of his Zimbabwean counterpart, even
as he used violent means against the opposition.
The U.S. envoy said he believed Mr. Mbeki is out of touch with political
trends in his own country on the issue.
At a news briefing, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said he had
read a transcript of the Khalilzad comments and found nothing that merits an
apology:
“Each individual state made its own decision,” said Sean McCormack. “South
Africa could have stood in the right side of history and voted for the
resolution. They chose not to. Again, [it was] their decision and let people
judge their actions.”
McCormack also there was nothing inappropriate in an expression of hope
Tuesday by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer
that South Africa will take a harder line on Zimbabwe after Mr. Mbeki leaves
office next year.
The spokesman said it is a matter of record that African National Congress
leader Jacob Zuma, considered Mr. Mbeki’s likely successor, has taken a
different public stance than the current president, who has been widely
accused of being soft on the Mugabe government.
President Bush told his news conference Tuesday the administration is
working on potential new U.S. bilateral sanctions on the Zimbabwean
leadership after the failure of the draft U.N resolution.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, meanwhile, depicted the authoritarian
Mugabe government as a page in history that Africa must turn. She warned the
region will face perennial instability unless the peaceful aspirations of
Zimbabweans are respected, and reflected in their government.
US State Department
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