EU clarify non-existent sanctions

Violet Gonda: What are people in your new parliament saying about the Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe?

Geoffrey Van Orden: The mood is positive in the sense that were encouraged that there has been some good developments in Zimbabwe – that Morgan Tsvangirai is doing well as Prime Minister. But of course we are still concerned about the implementation of the GPA, and the general situation in the country.

VG: And of course the EU has imposed restrictions on Zimbabwe, so do we expect anything different in this new parliament and do you think its time to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe?

GVO: Well first of all, lets be clear there arent any sanctions on Zimbabwe. Right? And there never have been. The sanctions, the restrictive measures are against a small number of leading elements in the regime in Zimbabwe which has created the economic problems for that country and carried out enormous human rights abuses.

They are the sanctions and in fact there is a list of people who are targeted, there are 203 people on the list, there are 40 companies which are associated with those people and they are the target of sanctions, and what we have is the freezing of their personal assets – in other words all this money which has come out of Zimbabwe and is lodged in bank accounts and things in other parts of the world, in particular in European countries, and the prevention of these people travelling to European countries.

And of course there is an embargo on arms sales. But there are no sanctions against Zimbabwe, there never have been and weve been very careful to target the restrictive measures against those that have been imposing tyranny on the people of Zimbabwe. I think we need to be absolutely clear about this.

VG: What is the EUs common position on Zimbabwe, especially to do with these sanctions?

GVO: Well first of all, we have opened a dialogue between Zimbabwe and the European Union. This happened in June and the agreement was that our partner in the dialogue would be Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. Of course we want to get the relationship between Zimbabwe and the European Union normalised as quickly as possible but that requires a continuing and major change in Zimbabwe in order to reach that state of affairs.

VG: What sort of changes?

GVO: Im aware that the President of South Africa is in Zimbabwe at this moment and there will be some issues that he will be asked to mediate on in his capacity as the chairman of SADC. For instance, the issue of the governorship of the Reserve Bank and the appointment of the Attorney General, matters such as that.

VG: Were the sanctions instigated by the MDC?

GVO: Of course not. The sanctions were instigated by democratic countries in Europe – which were appalled by the conditions then reigning in Zimbabwe – and of course these are sanctions where other parts of the world, the United States and Australia and many other countries have joined in as well.

And I say again, these are not sanctions against Zimbabwe, they had no effect on the economic situation of Zimbabwe. We have to look at the blame for the economic crisis which has afflicted the country for so many years is firmly in the hands of President Robert Mugabe and the regime which has kept him in power.

VG: If the MDC categorically asks for a lifting of sanctions, will it be done?

GVO: I dont think that people in Europe will be very happy about lifting these restrictive measures against members of the regime until were satisfied that there is the rule of law, respect for human rights, respect for political freedom restored in Zimbabwe.

VG: What is your reaction to this statement by the Vice President, Joyce Mujuru: Zimbabwe groans under sanctions, unlawful sanctions which must go for her to regain her lustre. This is a challenge comparable to the dismantling of settler colonialism. It needs heroes.

GVO: Well its just not true is it? Im sorry to say this is just political propaganda, its just not true and it doesnt help the people of Zimbabwe, whove suffered so much over this last decade and more.