Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1098
2008-07-18 12:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
EU LIKELY TO EXPAND ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO2669 RR RUEHAG RUEHBZ RUEHDF RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHPOD RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHBS #1098 2001241 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 181241Z JUL 08 ZDK FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001098
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED PARA MARKINGS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN
SUBJECT: EU LIKELY TO EXPAND ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001098
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED PARA MARKINGS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN
SUBJECT: EU LIKELY TO EXPAND ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS
1. (U) EU Foreign Ministers appear ready to expand the list of
Zimbabwean officials under EU sanctions when the ministers
meet July 22 at the General Affairs and External Relations
Council (GAERC). Working level negotiators from the 27 EU
member states have agreed to add some 37 individuals to the
existing list of 131 Zimbabweans subject to visa bans and
asset freezes, according to contacts. They also plan to
freeze assets of four Zimbabwean companies controlled by
sanctioned officials. The EU also plans to tighten travel
ban exemptions to require approval from all 27 member states,
instead of the currently required majority, before a
sanctioned individual could travel to Europe for an
international conference. A move to sanction spouses and
children of sanctioned officials has so far failed to gain
consensus, according to a French contact.
Widespread political consensus
--------------
2. (SBU) The EU-27 have been unified on expanding sanctions.
Working level officials have been preparing options papers on
sanctions and other measures since February, but there was no
political appetite to impose them before the second round of
the presidential election on June 27. Since that time,
however, there has been little doubt that the EU would
proceed with expanded sanctions. The European Commission has
argued at working level meetings against sanctions, saying
they will impede dialogue. Member states, however, believe
the sanctions are warranted and may pressure the Mugabe
regime to take political negotiations more seriously. The
July 22 GAERC is the first since MDC candidate Morgan
Tsvagirai withdrew in the face of state-sponsored political
violence and Mugabe declared himself the winner. High
Representative Javier Solana, Commissioner Louis Michel and
two EU presidencies - Slovenia, which stepped down June 30,
and France, which took over July 1 - all have issued strong
statements condemning the June 27 election. Michel called it
a "sham" and "an exercise in power-grabbing." Solana said
the election outcome "cannot be regarded as legitimate."
French FM Kouchner has said publicly that the EU will not
recognize any Zimbabwean government that is not headed by
Tsvangirai, who received more votes than Mugabe in the March
29 round of presidential voting. Key questions still being
debated among the member states are whether the Foreign
Ministers will explicitly call for recognition of Tsvangirai
as head of state. The French Ambassador to the Political and
Security Committee said France wants to put the EU on record
in favor of respecting the results of the first round of the
presidential election. Some member states, however, favor
endorsing a government of national unity or a transitional
government leading to new elections.
Other measures ahead
--------------
3. (SBU) The EU's first step will be to expand the list of those
under asset freeze and visa ban sanctions, since that is a
relatively easy process that can be accomplished before the
August EU vacation period, contacts said. In September, the
EU plans to consider additional measures. Possibilities
include a ban on EU investments in Zimbabwe, a prohibition on
the export of luxury goods to Zimbabwe, bans on EU bidding on
public sector procurement contracts, and restrictions on
diplomatic contacts above the level of Political Director,
according to a UK contact. A proposal by Italy to have the
rest of the EU member states follow its lead in recalling
their ambassadors to Harare fell flat, with member states
deciding it was better to have as many international eyes and
ears on the ground as possible.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) Perhaps most interesting from the July 22 GAERC will be
the extent to which foreign ministers follow either the
African Union line of endorsing a government of national
unity (sharing power between ZANU-PF and the MDC) or
Kouchner's line of calling for a Tsvangirai-led government.
End comment.
SILVERBERG
.
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED PARA MARKINGS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN
SUBJECT: EU LIKELY TO EXPAND ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS
1. (U) EU Foreign Ministers appear ready to expand the list of
Zimbabwean officials under EU sanctions when the ministers
meet July 22 at the General Affairs and External Relations
Council (GAERC). Working level negotiators from the 27 EU
member states have agreed to add some 37 individuals to the
existing list of 131 Zimbabweans subject to visa bans and
asset freezes, according to contacts. They also plan to
freeze assets of four Zimbabwean companies controlled by
sanctioned officials. The EU also plans to tighten travel
ban exemptions to require approval from all 27 member states,
instead of the currently required majority, before a
sanctioned individual could travel to Europe for an
international conference. A move to sanction spouses and
children of sanctioned officials has so far failed to gain
consensus, according to a French contact.
Widespread political consensus
--------------
2. (SBU) The EU-27 have been unified on expanding sanctions.
Working level officials have been preparing options papers on
sanctions and other measures since February, but there was no
political appetite to impose them before the second round of
the presidential election on June 27. Since that time,
however, there has been little doubt that the EU would
proceed with expanded sanctions. The European Commission has
argued at working level meetings against sanctions, saying
they will impede dialogue. Member states, however, believe
the sanctions are warranted and may pressure the Mugabe
regime to take political negotiations more seriously. The
July 22 GAERC is the first since MDC candidate Morgan
Tsvagirai withdrew in the face of state-sponsored political
violence and Mugabe declared himself the winner. High
Representative Javier Solana, Commissioner Louis Michel and
two EU presidencies - Slovenia, which stepped down June 30,
and France, which took over July 1 - all have issued strong
statements condemning the June 27 election. Michel called it
a "sham" and "an exercise in power-grabbing." Solana said
the election outcome "cannot be regarded as legitimate."
French FM Kouchner has said publicly that the EU will not
recognize any Zimbabwean government that is not headed by
Tsvangirai, who received more votes than Mugabe in the March
29 round of presidential voting. Key questions still being
debated among the member states are whether the Foreign
Ministers will explicitly call for recognition of Tsvangirai
as head of state. The French Ambassador to the Political and
Security Committee said France wants to put the EU on record
in favor of respecting the results of the first round of the
presidential election. Some member states, however, favor
endorsing a government of national unity or a transitional
government leading to new elections.
Other measures ahead
--------------
3. (SBU) The EU's first step will be to expand the list of those
under asset freeze and visa ban sanctions, since that is a
relatively easy process that can be accomplished before the
August EU vacation period, contacts said. In September, the
EU plans to consider additional measures. Possibilities
include a ban on EU investments in Zimbabwe, a prohibition on
the export of luxury goods to Zimbabwe, bans on EU bidding on
public sector procurement contracts, and restrictions on
diplomatic contacts above the level of Political Director,
according to a UK contact. A proposal by Italy to have the
rest of the EU member states follow its lead in recalling
their ambassadors to Harare fell flat, with member states
deciding it was better to have as many international eyes and
ears on the ground as possible.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) Perhaps most interesting from the July 22 GAERC will be
the extent to which foreign ministers follow either the
African Union line of endorsing a government of national
unity (sharing power between ZANU-PF and the MDC) or
Kouchner's line of calling for a Tsvangirai-led government.
End comment.
SILVERBERG
.