Mgoyangi
Senior Member
- Feb 6, 2008
- 184
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Brown told 'don't arm-twist Zimbabwe'
Updated 11.23 Fri Sep 21 2007
Keywords: African Union, Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Gordon Brown
The Tanzanian president Gertrude Mongella has told Gordon Brown that
"arm-twisting" is not the way to solve Zimbabwe's problems.
Dr Mongella also accused the Prime Minister of manipulating Africa as the
controversy grew over Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's attendance at a
major summit later this year.
Mr Brown said he will not go if Mr Mugabe - blamed for Zimbabwe's mounting
economic, political and humanitarian troubles - is at the tableHer remarks
reflect the African Union's determination to go ahead as planned and
invite Mr Mugabe to a major EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in
December.
Mr Brown said he will not go if Mr Mugabe - blamed for Zimbabwe's mounting
economic, political and humanitarian troubles - is at the table.
But the African Union, which includes Zimbabwe and was set up to promote
co-operation between independent African countries, has warned the EU that
some key political African leaders will stay away from the talks if one of
its members is snubbed.
The Portuguese government, in the EU presidency and organising the event,
is now walking a diplomatic tightrope in its efforts to appease Mr Brown -
whose views about Mr Mugabe are widely shared across Europe - while
avoiding the collapse of what is seen as a crucial event on Africa.
Hopes that Mr Mugabe could be persuaded to send a junior representative
from his country were dashed by Zimbabwe's UN ambassador, who insisted his
president would attend if invited.
Now Dr Mongella, attending a conference with Socialist Euro-MPs in
Brussels, has made clear that African solidarity might undermine Mr
Brown's "him or me" challenge to the summit.
She said: "We do know there are some problems (in Zimbabwe), but if
somebody wants to arm-twist Zimbabwe, that's not the best way to solve the
problems.
"I think this is again another way of manipulating Africa. Zimbabwe is a
nation which got independence.
"I think in the developed countries there are so many countries doing
things which not all of us subscribe to: we have seen the Iraq war - not
everyone accepts what is being done in Iraq."
Dr Mongella urged all government leaders to go to the summit - including
Mr Brown - to join the talks to "meet, develop a very committed dialogue
to solve problems, rather than threatening each other by going or not
going."
© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
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Naam, hivi ndivyo Independent TV News ilivyowahi kuripoti, Mongela Rais wa Tanzania.
Updated 11.23 Fri Sep 21 2007
Keywords: African Union, Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Gordon Brown
The Tanzanian president Gertrude Mongella has told Gordon Brown that
"arm-twisting" is not the way to solve Zimbabwe's problems.
Dr Mongella also accused the Prime Minister of manipulating Africa as the
controversy grew over Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's attendance at a
major summit later this year.
Mr Brown said he will not go if Mr Mugabe - blamed for Zimbabwe's mounting
economic, political and humanitarian troubles - is at the tableHer remarks
reflect the African Union's determination to go ahead as planned and
invite Mr Mugabe to a major EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in
December.
Mr Brown said he will not go if Mr Mugabe - blamed for Zimbabwe's mounting
economic, political and humanitarian troubles - is at the table.
But the African Union, which includes Zimbabwe and was set up to promote
co-operation between independent African countries, has warned the EU that
some key political African leaders will stay away from the talks if one of
its members is snubbed.
The Portuguese government, in the EU presidency and organising the event,
is now walking a diplomatic tightrope in its efforts to appease Mr Brown -
whose views about Mr Mugabe are widely shared across Europe - while
avoiding the collapse of what is seen as a crucial event on Africa.
Hopes that Mr Mugabe could be persuaded to send a junior representative
from his country were dashed by Zimbabwe's UN ambassador, who insisted his
president would attend if invited.
Now Dr Mongella, attending a conference with Socialist Euro-MPs in
Brussels, has made clear that African solidarity might undermine Mr
Brown's "him or me" challenge to the summit.
She said: "We do know there are some problems (in Zimbabwe), but if
somebody wants to arm-twist Zimbabwe, that's not the best way to solve the
problems.
"I think this is again another way of manipulating Africa. Zimbabwe is a
nation which got independence.
"I think in the developed countries there are so many countries doing
things which not all of us subscribe to: we have seen the Iraq war - not
everyone accepts what is being done in Iraq."
Dr Mongella urged all government leaders to go to the summit - including
Mr Brown - to join the talks to "meet, develop a very committed dialogue
to solve problems, rather than threatening each other by going or not
going."
© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
Post to del.icio.us Digg this story Post to reddit Post to Facebook Post
to StumbleUpon Seed Newsvine Add ITN News Search to my Google Toolbar
Naam, hivi ndivyo Independent TV News ilivyowahi kuripoti, Mongela Rais wa Tanzania.