Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-12-13-Speech-4-131"
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"en.20011213.10.4-131"2
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"Mr President, this is the second urgent resolution on Zimbabwe that we have put forward in just over three months. The reason for this is our enormous concern at the continued deterioration of the situation in that country with such a short time to go before the presidential elections.
At the beginning of September there were some indications that Mugabe might be prepared to respond to international pressure. Sadly, it is now very obvious that the commitments given at Abuja were a sham. It would seem that Mugabe thinks he can make a few promises, buy a little more time and then carry on with his repressive policies while the economy of a once prosperous Zimbabwe collapses. Half a million Zimbabweans are now on the verge of starvation. Opposition politicians go in fear of their lives. Mugabe's absolute contempt for international opinion was further demonstrated by his defiance towards the EU troika which visited Harare at the end of November. We now have to show that we are serious in our threats to take action. At the moment Mugabe thinks he is untouchable and even flies to Spain for medical treatment.
We are not proposing the blunt instrument of economic sanctions. We know that this would impact on the population at large and in any case we are only too aware how such measures can be evaded. We are calling for smart sanctions that would directly hit Mugabe, his family and his cronies. Steps should be taken immediately to freeze their overseas assets and to impose a travel ban. The decision to move in this direction should be taken by ministers at Laeken this weekend. Our resolve should be made absolutely clear in the meeting scheduled to take place next week between the European Union and Zimbabwean representatives under the terms of Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement.
If Mugabe does not take immediate and verifiable action in the way that the international community is demanding, the European Union must be ready at once to impose the smart sanctions. Our resolution today sets out clearly what has to be done. Let us not dilute the message in any way. The resolution is a basis for action now."@en1
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