HEAD of delegation of the European Union (EU) Xavier Marchal yesterday said Europe was ready to restore relations with Harare if the country fully consummates the global political agreement (GPA). Opening an Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) seminar in the capital, Marchal said the EU was not pushing for regime change as claimed by President Robert Mugabe.
His remarks also downplayed government claims that the decade-long economic recession was caused by EU and United States sanctions imposed on the country.
"This is the reality of the EU-Zimbabwe relationship and prospects for normalisation," said Marchal. "There is no such thing as a regime-change agenda. Rather, there is readiness from the EU to re-engage with the inclusive government with Robert Mugabe as President and Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister, on the basis of an agreed methodology.
"A methodology of this re-engagement process was agreed: Zimbabwe to demonstrate GPA implementation through a road map, the EU to respond by its own road map of progressive normalisation...Trade relations are not the subject of restrictions from the EU. The EU as a block continues to be the major trading partner of Zimbabwe with several EU member states as most important markets in the EU."
He said the EU has committed more than 700 million euros in Zimbabwe since 2002 through humanitarian and technical support.

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"...Trade relations are not the subject of restrictions from the EU. The EU as a block continues to be the major trading partner of Zimbabwe .."
That is going to change, rhodie.
Not Again
The lands of maZimbabwe
and the patriots of Zimbabwe
have watched your steps .
And found you wanting. .
They have watched
while you devastated
the lands of the ancestors
and unleashed starvation death
on the children of Nehanda
.
And pretended that you didn't, hypocrite! .
Not that they needed any reminder They have glorious ancestors To remind them of your evil
.
Not Again
.
Go East, My Son
Not Again, Nehanda
.
Glory to Mwari
.
Go East, My Son
chokora the only hypocrite here is you and your foolish babble or better said rubbish..
Clearly Bloodstained Bob and ZANU-Poof cannot allow the implementation of the GPA because it would require the removal of Comrade Gono.
Once removed, Comrade Gono would not be able to shield and protect ZANU-Poof's looting of the central bank as it's chief source of funding. Once Gono is gone, there is nothing to prevent a forensic audit of the central bank's activities over the last 5 years. And the questions of who was able to buy hard currency at the "official" rate when the Zim Dollar was worthless, AND, where did the hard currency pruchased go?
Comrade Gono is ZANU-Poof's last stand, when he goes, the entire party will either scramble to their bolt-holes in Malaysia or be consumed in the conflagration.
THAT is why ZANU-Poof will never agree to fully implement the GPA, it is their death warrant. Once they give up any real lever of power, they know the rest of the house of cards will come tumbling down upon them.
But what do you expect from a so-called government that murders, tortures and rapes it's own people - Oh, I'm sorry, they only murder, torture and rape their political opposition and anyone who isn't ZANU-Poof.
"Total Empowerment!" Yes, contrary to ZANU-Poof and Bloodstained Bob's claims of "empowerment" (how "empowered" are YOU?), I look forward to a day when ALL Zimbabweans are "empowered", and also protected by the rule of law and all of the other freedoms that are their right.......... and NOT what people like Bloodstained Bob and his henchme find "convenient".........