I have to say at the outset that I am extremely encouraged by the fact that the Commission has worked out such a very clear strategy for dealing with these very critical weeks before the election takes place. I particularly welcome the fact that we are training domestic observers – I think that is very important and will offset the likelihood of Mugabe criticising us for coming in in a neo-colonialist way to interfere in his election. I also welcome the fact that we will be supporting civil society’s objectives in these next few weeks. I very much hope, Commissioner, that we will disseminate this kind of information in Zimbabwe because those people trying to mount an opposition campaign will be heartened by the kind of information that we have had from you today and I think that would be important. One of the things I want to talk about briefly is the role of the state-controlled media in the run-up before the election. The Commissioner did not mention this, but it would be sensible to do so because TV, radio and state-owned newspapers in Zimbabwe are acting now as if they were the agents of Zanu-PF. All reporting of opposition parties is negative, with the MDC a particular target. I would really like to know what we can do from the European Union to try to ensure that the opposition groups – and there are 26 parties standing in the election – have some access to the media. State-controlled media, Commissioner, is refusing to take paid advertising even from the main NGOs who are just working to support the electoral process and democracy in Zimbabwe, or from any opposition parties. Only three independent newspapers are carrying any kind of adverts from parties other than Zanu-PF so that only the claims of the government are being read or seen by the people and that has to be a contradiction if we are talking about providing democracy. The fact is that the independent press does not have the print capacity to deal with demand. People in Zimbabwe are afraid. The deaths and injuries in the rural areas and increasingly in the towns are deeply worrying. Zanu-PF has the government resources, and the MDC supporters are too afraid to donate money. I even read in the British press that Kabila and Qadhafi are giving money now to Mugabe’s campaign, which is a bit frightening. It is deeply worrying that the opposition are fighting their campaign on Zanu-PF grounds. They have no control over the electoral roll, they have no control over the polling stations that will be run by government civil servants. This is wrong because the role of these government civil servants in the last referendum was very dubious indeed. The people understand that and are aware of it. There is evidence also of this Fifth Brigade being involved in pre-election crackdowns. The Fifth Brigade were responsible for the brutality that Mugabe perpetuated in Matabeleland in the 80s. That also is something that worries me and I would like the EU to look into it. Finally, President, let us be sure that we work as a European Union to create the conditions which will allow the people of Zimbabwe to express their choices in this election in June and express their choices in secret and without fear.

Political group: PSE