Mugabe Invited to EU-African Summit - Political Forum

Dragon Horse · 09-28-2007, 11:25 AM

'Everybody's Welcome to EU-Africa Summit'

The Times of Zambia (Ndola)

NEWS
27 September 2007
Posted to the web 27 September 2007

By Emmerson Muchangwe
New York

Portugal says it will not discriminate on delegates to the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon at the end of the year. And President Mwanawasa yesterday held closed-door talks with Portuguese Prime Minister, Louis Amado at the United Nations headquarters in New York which mainly centred on the Lisbon EU-Africa summit.

The Portuguese secretary of state for foreign affairs told ZANIS in New York that it was unfortunate that the agenda of Zimbabwe's invitation to the summit was being given more prominence at the expense of other issues relating to the forthcoming summit. Mr Joao Gomes Cravinuo said Portugal, as the current chair of the European Union, would not discriminate when inviting delegates to the summit.

"The issue of Zimbabwe's participation at the EU-Africa summit will not hinder the holding of a succesful summit," said Mr Gravinuo. He said the European Union and Portugal in particular were interested in seeing more cooperation between Europe and Africa. Mr Cravinuo said the Portuguese government felt that it should consult President Mwanawasa on the preparations for the summit because he chairs SADC, which is a very strong regional grouping.

President Mwanawasa and Portuguese Prime Minister Louis Amado yesterdaymet behind closed doors at the United Nations headquarters for bilateral talks which mainly centred on preparationsfor the EU-Africa summit set for December in the Portuguese capital Lisbon.

Briefingjournalists after the meeting, Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande said the Portuguese prime minister updated Mr Mwanawasa on the preparations for the Lisbon summit. Mr Pande, who was among the senior officials that attended the closed-door talks, said President Mwanawasa was happy that the preparations for the summit had reached an advanced stage. The Lisbon EU-Africa summit will be the second such high-level meeting between Europe and Africa with the first one having been held in Cairo, Egypt in2003.

Yesterday, President Mwanawasa maintained after a closed-door meeting with his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe in New York that the official position of SADC was that none of the member countries would attend the Lisbon summit if the Zimbabwean President was barred.

Mr Mwanawasa, who was speaking soon after meeting Mr Mugabe on the 47th floor of Palace Hotel where he is staying, summed up the position ofSADC as 'No Mugabe, No Summit.'

The unfolding EU-Africa summit controversy was triggered last week after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would boycott the summit if Mr Mugabe was allowed to attend, saying the attention of the summit would shift from important issues to the Zimbabwean leader. Earlier in the day, President Mwanawasa held a private meeting with Mr Jack Gryuberg of Greyuberg Petrolean Company.

The meeting was one of the many others that are lined up for the Presidentto woo investors to Zambia on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations 62nd General Assembly which opened on Monday.

Dragon Horse · 09-28-2007, 11:26 AM

I would not allow him to come, he is a dictator and he is not capitalist or democratic...why is he given a forum there?

Brother Oz · 09-28-2007, 12:57 PM

A lot of Europeans didn't want him there. Gordon Brown said he wouldn't come to the summit of Mugabe was there. But basically the other African leaders said they wouldn't come if he wasn't allowed, and most of the European leaders have just given in. It's not like they actually have to talk to Mugabe.

Incidentally, we talk to dictators all the time, and certainly non-Capitalists, the ruling parties of several European countries are officially Socialist. The difference I guess with Zimbabwe is that Mugabe is so bad, and doesn't have anything we want.

Slartibartfas · 09-29-2007, 05:10 PM

Its about principles. It doesn't harm the European interests but its spitting on our principles.

In fact if we would risk the summit it would harm our interests probably far more. And unluckily those two things the summit and Mugabe had been connected by the African head of states who are not all democratic anyway. (But most of those nondemocratic ones are not as bad as Mugabe)

Lancer · 09-30-2007, 05:16 AM

Zimbabwe, a once prosperous and thriving country known as 'the bread basket' of Africa, brought to its knees by a despicable, self-interested snake of a dictator. A nasty little specimen of a man who won his last election by having his leading opponent arrested for treason. A man whose only concern is his own wealth and wellbeing. A man who has allowed the health and wellbeing of his own people to deteriorate to the lowest levels in the world.

Thanks to Mugabe, Zimbabwe now has the world’s shortest life expectancy— the World Health Organisation records this as 37 years for men and 34 for women. It also has the greatest percentage of orphans (about 25%, says UNICEF) and the worst annual inflation rate.

Mugabe is a corrupt leader and one of the world's worst human rights abusers, but the portuguese idiots who currently hold the presidency of the EU still see fit to invite him to the conference. Says a lot about the EU mandarins and their double standards. Whatever happened to the EU imposed travel ban on Mugabe and 94 members of his government?

panteth4h2o · 09-30-2007, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancer

Zimbabwe, a once prosperous and thriving country known as 'the bread basket' of Africa, brought to its knees by a despicable, self-interested snake of a dictator. .......

Thanks to Mugabe, Zimbabwe now has the world’s shortest life expectancy— the World Health Organisation records this as 37 years for men and 34 for women. It also has the greatest percentage of orphans (about 25%, says UNICEF) and the worst annual inflation rate.

It's unbelievable what this guy has done to their economy. I was reading that their inflation rate was over 1000%. Supposedly, many of their citizens are about to be on the brink of starvation pretty soon. I can't help but to wonder how much longer this guy will remain in power.

Slartibartfas · 09-30-2007, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancer

Zimbabwe, a once prosperous and thriving country known as 'the bread basket' of Africa, brought to its knees by a despicable, self-interested snake of a dictator. A nasty little specimen of a man who won his last election by having his leading opponent arrested for treason. A man whose only concern is his own wealth and wellbeing. A man who has allowed the health and wellbeing of his own people to deteriorate to the lowest levels in the world.

Thanks to Mugabe, Zimbabwe now has the world’s shortest life expectancy— the World Health Organisation records this as 37 years for men and 34 for women. It also has the greatest percentage of orphans (about 25%, says UNICEF) and the worst annual inflation rate.

Mugabe is a corrupt leader and one of the world's worst human rights abusers, but the portuguese idiots who currently hold the presidency of the EU still see fit to invite him to the conference. Says a lot about the EU mandarins and their double standards. Whatever happened to the EU imposed travel ban on Mugabe and 94 members of his government?

If you have the choice between inviting all but not speaking to those kinds of people like Mugabe, or between inviting only the rest except Mugabe and Co but speaking to no one because the others refuse to come then. What do you choose?

Having no summit at all?
Wow, sounds like a great concept. Perhaps you tell us your alternative concept before you condemn the EU.

Lancer · 09-30-2007, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panteth4h2o

It's unbelievable what this guy has done to their economy. I was reading that their inflation rate was over 1000%. Supposedly, many of their citizens are about to be on the brink of starvation pretty soon. I can't help but to wonder how much longer this guy will remain in power.

It's even worse than that. Latest figures show that inflation is between 7,600% (government figures) and 13,000% (independent estimates). Four out of five of the country’s twelve million people live below the poverty line and a quarter have fled, mainly to neighbouring countries. A military-led campaign to slash prices has produced acute food and fuel shortages, and conducting business is becoming almost impossible. It is reported that 4 million people are starving and in need of food aid.

How much longer will he remain in power? Well, look at it this way. Mugabe realises that the trial of Liberia's warlord, Charles Taylor, in 2006 for crimes against humanity has removed guarantees for his safe retirement. It is unlikely, therefore, that he will step down. He is running in the 2008 elections and all he has to do is diminish his opposition any way he can, whether by beatings, false imprisonment or even murder. It worked before and it will work again.

Slartibartfas · 09-30-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancer

It's even worse than that. Latest figures show that inflation is between 7,600% (government figures) and 13,000% (independent estimates). Four out of five of the country’s twelve million people live below the poverty line and a quarter have fled, mainly to neighbouring countries. A military-led campaign to slash prices has produced acute food and fuel shortages, and conducting business is becoming almost impossible. It is reported that 4 million people are starving and in need of food aid.

How much longer will he remain in power? Well, look at it this way. Mugabe realises that the trial of Liberia's warlord, Charles Taylor, in 2006 for crimes against humanity has removed guarantees for his safe retirement. It is unlikely, therefore, that he will step down. He is running in the 2008 elections and all he has to do is diminish his opposition any way he can, whether by beatings, false imprisonment or even murder. It worked before and it will work again.

The point that could become dangerous for him is though when too many people starve for too long.

People who face already death, dont fear it anymore... and then he might have loved to face a fair trial instead of the mob...

Agrippina · 10-01-2007, 01:16 PM

The trouble is that he has surrounded himself with bodyguards who are well-paid and well-fed. Ordinary people don't stand a chance. He is a disgrace to any rational-minded African, reminds me of Idi Amin in the '70s. It is very sad.