LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 000204 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER PARIS FOR NEARY LONDON FOR GURNEY STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE CLASSIFIED BY DCM REWHITEHEAD DUE TO 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) THE GOZ SUBMITTED A LETTER FROM FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE TO THE EU IN HARARE AT 8:00 P.M. ON JANUARY 18, JUST HOURS BEFORE EXPIRATION OF THE ONE-WEEK DEADLINE IMPOSED BY THE EU DURING ITS JANUARY 11 ARTICLE 96 CONSULTATIONS WITH A MUDENGE-LED GOZ DELEGATION. THE LETTER WAS NOT SIGNED BY MUDENGE, WHO WAS ABSENT FROM ZIMBABWE WHEN THE LETTER WAS DELIVERED. BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER DONNELLY AND SWEDISH COUNSELOR FOUM PROVIDED COPIES OF THE LETTER AND THEIR COMMENTS TO DCM ON JANUARY 21. THEY CHARACTERIZED THE LETTER AS "RUBBISH" AND "GARBAGE", RESPECTIVELY, AND LISTED THE FOLLOWING SHORTCOMINGS. ¶2. (C) ON THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, THE LETTER CITED RECENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY MUGABE, VARIOUS MINISTERS, AND THE ZIMBABWEAN COMMISSIONER OF POLICE CRITICAL OF VIOLENCE -- AND ALSO THE GOZ'S AGREEMENT IN BLANTYRE TO LAUNCH A PEACE CAMPAIGN -- AS EVIDENCE OF THE GOZ'S GOOD FAITH. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT THE GOZ "IS READY TO CONSIDER" A PROPOSAL TO SEEK AGREEMENT (WITH THE OPPOSITION) ON AN ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT. ON ELECTIONS, THE LETTER CLAIMS THAT THE AMENDED ELECTORAL LAW STRENGTHENS THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION AND, THOUGH NOT STATED, PRESUMABLY OBVIATES THE NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION. THE LETTER CONFIRMS THAT THE GOZ PLANS TO INVITE NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, THE LATTER DRAWN FROM THE ACP/EU, SADC, OAU/AU, COMMONWEALTH, AND THE UNITED NATIONS. THERE IS NO MENTION OF A START-UP DATE OR WHEN FORMAL INVITATIONS WILL BE DELIVERED. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 00204 01 OF 04 221423Z ¶3. (C) THE MUDENGE LETTER NEXT ADDRESSES FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA, CLAIMING THAT THE EXISTENCE OF A "VIGOROUS AND COMBATIVE" PRIVATE MEDIA ILLUSTRATES THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. IT ATTACKS TWO "PRO-MDC SHORT-WAVE RADIO STATION ...BEAMING INCITING, ANTI-ZIMBABWE PROPAGANDA...FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS" AND QUOTES THE JANUARY 14 COMMUNIQUE FROM SADC LEADERS EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE. THIS SECTION OF THE LETTER AFFIRMS THE GOZ PRACTICE OF LETTING INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS COVER NATIONAL EVENTS "ON THE BASIS OF (GOZ) LAWS AND REGULATIONS." THE LETTER REJECTS ALLEGATIONS THAT THE GOZ HAS INTERFERED WITH THE JUDICIARY AND CLAIMS THAT NO FURTHER ILLEGAL FARM OCCUPATION HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABUJA AGREEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2001. THE DOCUMENT CONCLUDES WITH A LENGTHY EXPRESSION OF GOZ CONCERN OVER THE ARBITRARY AND UNILATERAL APPROACH THE EU HAS TAKEN, AND CALLS FOR FURTHER DIALOGUE. ¶4. (C) EU AMBASSADORS MET ON JANUARY 19 TO DRAFT A COMMON RESPONSE TO MUDENGE'S LETTER, TO BE CLEARED WITH THEIR CAPITALS. FOUM, WHO ATTENDED THIS MEETING, OFFERED TO PASS US A COPY WHEN IT IS IN FINAL. HE NOTED THAT THE DATE OF THE JANUARY 28 GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL COINCIDES WITH THE SIX-WEEK PERIOD IDENTIFIED BY THE EU AS THE MINIMUM TIME NECESSARY FOR ELECTION OBSERVATION. HE SAID THAT IF THE GOZ CONTINUES ITS FOOT-DRAGGING, HE BELIEVES THAT THE GAC COULD CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON SOME STILL UNSPECIFIED SANCTIONS. ¶5. (C) COMMENT. THERE IS STILL NO CONSENSUS ON WHAT CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 00204 01 OF 04 221423Z COMES NEXT AMONG EU DIPLOMATS HERE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A NEAR UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT THAT THE GOZ IS NOT ACTING IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT GOZ RHETORIC HAS DONE LITTLE TO CURB ONGOING VIOLENCE. THE SAMPLING OF EU DIPLOMATS WITH WHOM WE HAVE SPOKEN PREDICT THAT THE JANUARY 28 GAC MAY WELL BE PIVOTAL, AND CONTINUED USG CONSULTATION WITH EU STATES WILL BE IMPORTANT DURING THE INTERVENING PERIOD. END COMMENT. ¶6. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF MUDENGE LETTER: 18 JANUARY 2002 THE HONORABLE JOSEP PIQUE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE EU MR. PRESIDENT I HAVE THE HONOR TO WRITE TO YOU AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE FIRST ROUND OF THE ZIMBABWE-EU CONSULTATIONS HELD IN BRUSSELS ON 11 JANUARY 2002. NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S) CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9311 PAGE 01 HARARE 00204 02 OF 04 221424Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00 M-00 NSAE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 EPAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /002W -------------- 5B33B8 221424Z /38 O 221401Z JAN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0761 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY NSC WASHDC PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 000204 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER PARIS FOR NEARY LONDON FOR GURNEY STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE I WISH TO RECALL THAT WHILE ZIMBABWE ADDRESSED A NUMBER OF EU CONCERNS DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, WE ALSO RAISED CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 00204 02 OF 04 221424Z THREE MAJOR CONCERNS ON WHICH WE EARNESTLY EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION. I SUBMIT, IN THIS LETTER, A CONCISE SURVEY OF THE PRINCIPAL POINTS COVERED DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, IN PARTICULAR ZIMBABWE'S ACTIONS AND COMMITMENTS ON THOSE ISSUES. I ALSO OUTLINE THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE WITH REGARD TO THE CONDUCT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CERTAIN OF ITS MEMBER STATES, AND HOW SUCH CONDUCT HAS NOT HELPED PROMOTE THE PARTNERSHIP ENVISAGED IN THE ACP-EU PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. POLITICAL VIOLENCE THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS AGAINST VIOLENCE, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO ITS UTMOST TO BRING THIS PHENOMENON TO A STOP. AS I WRITE TO YOU, HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE AND HIS GOVERNMENT, AND LAW AND ORDER ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES ARE CONSTANTLY AND PUBLICLY APPEALING AGAINST VIOLENCE, AND FOR A PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. I ATTACH, FOR YOUR REFERENCE, A COPY OF A STATEMENT MADE RECENTLY BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST VIOLENCE. THE POLICE COMMISSIONER'S "BRIEFING ON POLICING AND THE RULE OF LAW IN ZIMBABWE", WHICH I SUBMITTED AS A CONFERENCE DOCUMENT DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, DEMONSTRATES MOST AMPLY ZIMBABWE'S COMMITMENT TO INVESTIGATE FULLY AND IMPARTIALLY ALL CASES OF ALLEGED POLITICAL VIOLENCE. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 00204 02 OF 04 221424Z WITH REGARD TO POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE, WE TAKE EXCEPTION TO CRITICISM LEVELED ONLY AGAINST THE RULING PARTY, AS IF TO SUGGEST THAT VIOLENCE BY THE OPPOSITION IS CONDONED. SUCH A PARTISAN STANCE FUELS VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY AND IS THEREFORE MOST UNHELPFUL. WE, THEREFORE, URGE THE EU TO TAKE A BALANCED APPROACH AND CONDEMN VIOLENCE FROM WHATEVER QUARTER IT COMES. AS WE MADE CLEAR DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS PURSUING THE SADC PROPOSAL TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE POLITICAL DIALOGUE. AT THEIR RECENT SUMMIT IN BLANTYRE, MALAWI, SADC LEADERS "NOTED WITH APPRECIATION THE COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE TO LAUNCH A PEACE CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE OPPOSITION AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS". THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS READY TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL TO SEEK AGREEMENT ON AND PROMOTE A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES. GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY APPROACHED THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK IN CONSULTATION WITH ALL POLITICAL PARTIES. ELECTIONS HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE HAS GIVEN ASSURANCES THAT THE FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR 9 AND 10 MARCH 2002 WILL BE FREE AND FAIR. AT THEIR BLANTYRE SUMMIT ON 14 JANUARY 2002, SADC LEADERS "WELCOMED THE ASSURANCES BY PRESIDENT MUGABE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 00204 02 OF 04 221424Z THAT THE FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR 9 AND 10 MARCH 2002 WILL BE FREE AND FAIR. SUMMIT NOTED THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE ELECTIONS". IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE, THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION HAS THE PREROGATIVE AND MANDATE TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN ZIMBABWE. THROUGH THE RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTORAL LAW, THE GOVERNMENT HAS STRENGTHENED THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION, AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ENABLE IT TO CARRY OUT ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INVITING NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS FROM GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE OF ACP/EU MEMBERS STATES, AS WELL AS FROM REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SADC, OAU(AU),COMMONWEALTH AND THE UNITED NATIONS. NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S) CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9312 PAGE 01 HARARE 00204 03 OF 04 221424Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 M-00 NSAE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /002W -------------- 5B33C4 221424Z /38 O 221401Z JAN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0762 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY NSC WASHDC PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 000204 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER PARIS FOR NEARY LONDON FOR GURNEY STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 00204 03 OF 04 221424Z FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AS GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE. IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL FAIR- MINDED OBSERVERS THAT THE EXISTENCE OF A VIGOROUS AND COMBATIVE PRIVATELY OWNED MEDIA IN ZIMBABWE, WHICH IS PARTLY FOREIGN OWNED AND FINANCED, ILLUSTRATES THE FREEDOM ENJOYED BY NEWSPAPERS IN THE COUNTRY. DURING ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, ZIMBABWE'S PUBLIC MEDIA ACCORDS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THAT IS, EQUAL AIRTIME TO ALL CONTESTING POLITICAL PARTIES. WHAT IS OF CONCERN TO ZIMBABWE IS THAT SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR, TWO PRO-MDC SHORT-WAVE RADIO STATIONS HAVE BEEN BEAMING INCITING, ANTI-ZIMBABWE PROPAGANDA AND PRO-MDC MESSAGES FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS. THIS CONSTITUTES GROSS INTERFERENCE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS. WE APPEAL TO THE EU TO PREVAIL UPON THESE TWO OF THEIR MEMBERS TO DESIST FROM THIS PROVOCATIVE AND HOSTILE ACTIVITY FORTHWITH, OTHERWISE ASKING ZIMBABWE TO ENSURE EQUAL TIME IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS CYNICAL AND HYPOCRITICAL. IN THEIR COMMUNIQUE' OF 14 JANUARY 2002, SADC LEADERS "EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE FACT THAT SOME WESTERN COUNTRIES HAVE AUTHORIZED THE BROADCASTING FROM THEIR TERRITORIES BY THEIR NATIONALS OF HOSTILE AND INCITING PROPAGANDA AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE". THE SUMMIT CALLED ON THOSE COUNTRIES TO DESIST FROM SUCH ACTIONS. ZIMBABWE FURTHER REAFFIRMS ITS PRACTICE OF ALLOWING JOURNALISTS, BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL, TO COVER CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 00204 03 OF 04 221424Z IMPORTANT NATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING ELECTIONS, ON THE BASIS OF ITS LAWS AND REGULATIONS. INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY GOVERNMENT UPHOLDS THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY. SECTION 84 OF THE CONSTITUTION VESTS IN THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO APPOINT JUDGES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION. PARLIAMENT MUST BE INFORMED OF JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS WHICH ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION. SUCH A SITUATION HAS NOT ARISEN IN ZIMBABWE IN 21 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. THEREFORE, ALLEGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE INTERFERING WITH THE JUDICIARY ARE NOT ONLY ILL FOUNDED BUT ALSO MALICIOUS AS THEY LACK SUBSTANCE. CONTRARY TO FALSEHOODS BEING WIDELY PROPAGATED BY THE ANTI-ZIMBABWE MEDIA, THERE IS NO DECISION OF THE JUDICIARY THAT REMAINS UNIMPLEMENTED BY MY GOVERNMENT. ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PROPERTIES THERE IS NO MORE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF FARMS OR ANY PROPERTIES, AS THERE HAVE BEEN NO FRESH FARM OCCUPATIONS SINCE THE ABUJA CONSULTATIONS WERE REACHED ON 6 SEPTEMBER 2001. MOMENTUM HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE MOVEMENT OF OCCUPIERS OF UNDESIGNATED FARMS ONTO LEGALLY ACQUIRED LAND. ZIMBABWE'S CONCERNS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 00204 03 OF 04 221424Z IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT THE DELEGATION OF ZIMBABWE RAISED THREE CONCERNS WITH THE EU, NAMELY: POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ZIMBABWE; THE NATURE OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ZIMBABWE AND THE EU; AND INFORMAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY CERTAIN EU MEMBER STATES. CERTAIN EU MEMBER STATES, IN PARTICULAR BRITAIN, HAVE FUNDED OPPOSITION PARTIES, PARTICULARLY THE MDC, INCLUDING FOR CAMPAIGNING IN THE RUN-UP TO THE FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. SUCH ACTION CLEARLY CONSTITUTES BLATANT INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ZIMBABWE, AND REMOVES THE MORAL GROUNDS FOR THE VIOLATING STATES TO CLAIM A ROLE AS NEUTRAL OBSERVERS IN ZIMBABWE'S ELECTIONS. IN ADDITION, SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR, TWO PRO-MDC SHORT-WAVE RADIO STATIONS HAVE BEEN BEAMING ANTI-ZIMBABWE PROPAGANDA AND PRO-MDC MESSAGES FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS. THIS HAS GIVEN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO THE MDC AND CONSTITUTES GROSS INTERFERENCE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS. WE APPEAL TO THE EU TO PREVAIL ON THESE TWO MEMBERS TO DESIST FROM NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S) CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9310 PAGE 01 HARARE 00204 04 OF 04 221424Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00 M-00 NSAE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /002W -------------- 5B33C8 221424Z /38 O 221401Z JAN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0763 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY NSC WASHDC PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 000204 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, A/S KANSTEINER AND DAS BELLAMY; ALSO FOR AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER PARIS FOR NEARY LONDON FOR GURNEY STATE PLEASE PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/12 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI EU SUBJECT: LAST-MINUTE GOZ RESPONSE TO EU ULTIMATUM FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK, EU DIPLOMATS STATE THIS PROVOCATIVE ACTIVITY FORTHWITH, OTHERWISE ASKING ZIMBABWE TO ENSURE EQUAL TIME IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA TO ALL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 00204 04 OF 04 221424Z POLITICAL PARTIES WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS CYNICAL AND HYPOCRITICAL. THE ARBITRARY AND UNILATERAL MANNER IN WHICH THE EU MOVED THE DIALOGUE WITH ZIMBABWE FROM ARTICLE 8 TO ARTICLE 96 PROVISIONS, AS WELL AS THE MAKING OF DEMANDS RATHER THAN SEEKING MUTUAL CONSULTATIONS ARE, IN OUR VIEW, A VIOLATION OF THE SPIRIT OF THE PARTNERSHIP ENVISAGED IN THE COTONOU AGREEMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT "DEMANDING" OR "INSISTING" ON THE SENDING OF EU OBSERVERS TO OBSERVE OUR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT. TO IMPOSE TIME FRAMES IN WHICH THIS MUST BE DONE IS IMPERIOUS AND CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP. IF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT ON THESE PARTICULAR POINTS IS DEEMED TO BE INCORRECT, THEN WE WOULD BE READY FOR A DETERMINATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. INFORMAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON ZIMBABWE BY CERTAIN EU MEMBER STATES DO NOT PROMOTE THE CO-OPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP ENVISAGED UNDER THE COTONOU AGREEMENT, WHOSE THRUST INCLUDES TRADE, AND DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION. IN THE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP, I REQUEST YOU TO ASK THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE IMPOSED THESE INFORMAL SANCTIONS TO DROP THEM. SUCH A REVERSAL WOULD FURTHER PROMOTE AN ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE FOR A PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS PERTINENT THAT I POINT OUT THAT OUR DIALOGUE IS NOT LIMITED TO WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 00204 04 OF 04 221424Z DOCUMENTATION. IT IS MY EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL KEEP ALL LINES AND FORMS OF COMMUNICATION OPEN BETWEEN US IN THE SPIRIT AND LETTER OF THE RELATIONS WE SHARE UNDER THE ACP-EU PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. I ENCLOSE A COMMUNIQUE' OF A RECENT SADC SUMMIT AT WHICH SOME OF THE ISSUES COVERED IN THIS LETTER WERE ALSO ADDRESSED. ACCEPT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST ESTEEM. ISG MUDENGE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE END TEXT. SULLIVAN CONFIDENTIAL >