Cape Town — Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, the head of the European Union (EU), said yesterday the EU was not ready to lift targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and other members of Zanu (PF).
Speaking after talks with President Jacob Zuma at Tuynhuys last night, Reinfeldt said, however, that a top-level EU delegation would visit Zimbabwe soon -- the first EU visit since sanctions were imposed seven years ago.
Zuma was this week part of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) call for all sanctions on Zimbabwe to be lifted . He said this would aid Zimbabwe's recovery.
"The EU has a position that they are not lifting sanctions. We are seeing things, as Sadc , from a different point of view," Zuma said.
Reinfeldt stressed the EU visit , which starts after the conclusion of the SA-EU summit which begins today, would study the situation there rather than being a precursor to the lifting of sanctions.
He said there was still violence in Zimbabwe -- much of it directed at Movement for Democratic Change leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai 's supporters.
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The EU and the US put in place targeted sanctions against Mugabe, his wife Grace and other prominent Zanu (PF) leaders. The sanctions restrict their travel and investment.
Reinfeldt and Zuma met ahead of today's SA-EU summit, at which an amended SA-EU Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement would be signed.
"Implementation of the SA-EU Trade and Development Co-operation Agreement has been under way since 2000 with the aim of establishing a free trade area between SA and the EU by 2012," an international relations briefing document said. The EU is the world's largest trading bloc, and is one of SA's largest export destinations. In 2007 about R150bn worth of goods were exported to the EU.
Zuma will be supported at the summit by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane, Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies , Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel and Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor .
Reinfeldt will be joined by José Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, and Dr Javier Solana, secretary-general of the Council of the EU and high representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, and other senior EU officials.
On the agenda at the meeting are discussions on the Sadc economic partnership agreement negotiations with the EU, the global financial crisis, climate change and preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The international relations document states that Europe remains the principal source of foreign direct investment in SA, accounting for about 80% of total foreign direct investment in 2005. Additionally, the EU accounted for about 66% of net foreign investment in SA in 2003 and 2004, and in 2005 the EU's share of the total assets held by foreigners in SA amounted to about 60%. With Sapa
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Zuma zuma zuma don't you read the media, watch international TV, surf the internet? Just look around you fool. THE WORLD and 80% of Zimbabweans HATE MUGABE, hate ZANUPF and think SADC is useless. I wonder why? Your actions speak louder than words. Mugabes actions speak louder than words. NO ONE WANTS HIM ANYWHERE near a government or a bank. HE is corrupt, a mass murderer and an extreme racist. Do yourself a favour and get rid of him.
Jeffjedi06;
Who said "80% of Zimbabweans HATE MUGABE; hate ZANUPF and think SADC is useless"? Of course it is not Zimbabweans but sellouts like Chachacha, Phiri and the Chirumhanzu boy as well as embedded CIA/MI6 agents like you, Awt, Juhlman, Zungairwa, Euro35, Prem and others too numerous to mention.
President Mugabe is loved by 101% of Zimbabweans. Even those who previously hated him because of your propaganda have now realized that he is a great revolutionary leader who has remained consistent and persistent in the face of the onslaught by imperialist west and has no comparison in Southern Africa and indeed the world over.
Zuma, like all other leaders in the region and in Africa, has realized that President Mugabe is a great leader of the revolution, although he had occasionally attacking my President while still trying to find his way to Union Building.
Now that Zuma is at the top of the political leader in SA, he has been enlightened and has no choice but to love the great leader of Africa His Excellency R.G. Mugabe - the President and Head of State and Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces.
President Mugabe was relevant YESTERDAY, is relevant TODAY and will FOREEVER be relevant to all the peoples of the region and indeed of Africa and ALL Africans in the Diaspora as well as All freedom fighters the world over.
everyone please ignore takunya he is a zanu-pf loyalist and kisses Mugabes behind so of course these foolish words are what you will hear from him...
The best medicine for him is to ignore his ignorance...
Who said 80% hated mugabe? the people of Zimbabwe did you bloody idiot.Takunya take your head out of your backside and smell the daisies.
Not really, mostly whites or British who do not like Mugabe.
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