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From EMMERSON MUCHANGWE in New York
THE European Union (EU) will not discriminate against any African leader when inviting them to attend the Africa-Europe summit in Portugal in December this year.
This came to light in New York yesterday when President Mwanawasa, the chairman of Southern African Development Community (SADC), held closed-door talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, the chairperson of the EU, on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to discuss the EU-Africa summit.
Portugal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Joao Gomes Cravinuo said it was unfortunate that the issue of Zimbabwe’s invitation was being given more prominence at the expense of other issues.
Mr Gravinuo said Portugal 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 successful summit,” Mr Gravinuo said.
He said the EU and Portugal, in particular, were interested in seeing more cooperation between Europe and Africa.
He said the Portuguese Government felt that it should consult President Mwanawasa on the preparations of the summit because he chairs SADC, “which is a very strong regional grouping.”
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs 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 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.
The first was held in Cairo, Egypt in 2003.
Earlier, when he met President Mugabe, President Mwanawasa maintained that the official position of SADC was that none of the member countries would attend the Lisbon summit if Mr Mugabe was barred.
Mr Mwanawasa summed up the position of SADC as “No Mugabe, No Summit.”
Meanwhile, the EU Head of Delegation in Zambia, Dr Derek Fee, says the Zambia Daily Mail distorted his statement in which he said whilst he understood President Mwanawasa’s position as part of African solidarity, it had to be understood also that Mr Mugabe and his top officials still faced a travel ban to Europe.
A statement issued in Lusaka yesterday said: “Dr Fee wishes to clarify the remarks in the Zambia Daily Mail edition of Tuesday, September 25th, 2007, under the headline ‘EU blocks Mugabe’.”
“Although the EU travel ban against President Mugabe and his officials is still in force, this may not preclude President Mugabe from attending the summit,” he said.
The controversy was triggered last week after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would boycott the summit if President Mugabe was allowed to attend.
Earlier in the day, President Mwanawasa held a private meeting with Mr.
Jack Greyuberg of Greyuberg Petroleum Company.
The meeting was one of the many lined up for the President to woo investors to Zambia on the sidelines of the ongoing UN 62nd General Assembly which opened on Monday. -ZANIS/Daily Mail
September 28, 2007 at 1:45 am
No apologies when we get to Portugal, bring him to the carpet and help Mugabe see that he needs to work for his people … thanks a trillion
September 28, 2007 at 4:16 am
Depending on which side of the road you standing by, you either hate or love Mugabe. Surely if the grass is greener on the other side, better believe that the water bill is also higher.
To those who understand the liberation struggles of the African movement from colonizers, they do appreciate the stance the “Bob is your Uncle” is taking. These guys lost all they had to fight the settlers. And Bob is telling it like it is, especially the double standards by the Powers that be.
On the flip of the coin, the younger generation who have fully immensed themselves with the education of the Western, economics, finance, etc….tend to howl all night and day long for Bob’s wrongdoing.
It will all fall on which side of the road you are on, because worse still you cant be in the middle of the road lest an 18 wheeler runs you over.
As for me I tend to agree with either side. Its not flip flopping, but there is neither a better side. Thats why there is the Non Aligned Movement.
I think in life if elephants are fighting and you being the trambled grass, its better you look at your own interests. Just pick a side which is conjucive to your ideals and bled to death on that ideology. Look at Bob, Bush, Gordon, Mwanawasa, they all say what they think is right and stick to it. So should you.
Trust yorself.