EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/502

(2004/C 88 E/0514)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0461/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Zimbabwe — EP resolution

In a letter dated 26 January 2004, the Zimbabwean Embassy and Mission to the EC forwarded its government's reply to the EP resolution of 15 January 2004 (P5_TA-PROV(2004)0033), to the Members of the European Parliament.

The government describes the resolution as straightforward propaganda, poisoned by hypocrisy and arrogance, full of wishful thinking and objective falsifications, containing ungrounded, anachronistic, frivolous and tendentious affirmations; it further accuses the European Parliament of fanning the flames of division and encouraging confrontation, ignoring the plight of black Zimbabweans and only interested in the return of land to the white farmers, and, moreover, accuses various European governments of operating a strategy to overthrow the Zimbabwean Government.

This reply leaves various questions unanswered, which contain the clear insinuation ‘who, in the end of the day, sabotaged the Zimbabwean economy? Who is responsible for the difficulties which Zimbabweans are facing?’.

Is the Commission aware of this reply?

How would it describe it, both in formal and material terms?

What comments does it have on the accusations levelled at the European Parliament and the governments of the Member States?

Does it intend to reply to the Zimbabwean Government? Has it already done so? In what shape and through what channels?

Does it remain convinced that the elections in Zimbabwe were neither free nor fair?

How does it rate the credibility of the alleged ‘occurrences’ referred to, and the accusations made against the European Parliament by the Zimbabwean Government?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

The Commission is aware of the reply mentioned by the Honourable Member as the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe transmitted to the Commission a copy of its letter to the President of the Parliament attaching its response to the Parliament's Resolution on Zimbabwe.

By note verbale of 20 February 2004, the Commission acknowledged receipt without adding any comment on the content of the Government of Zimbabwe's response.

The Commission does not share the analysis made by the Zimbabwean authorities.

The Commission has not changed its view on the conduct of the March 2002 presidential elections which were considered to be characterised by the systematic use of violence, intimidation and the electoral manipulation, which led the EU to conclude that the outcome did not fairly reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people.

The Commission's critical opinion on the current situation is well known. It is the basis for its recent proposal, approved by the Council, to extend for a further period of 12 months the measures against Zimbabwe. Moreover, the Commission has taken every opportunity to convey to the Government of Zimbabwe its concern at the present state of affairs. The Commission recalls the declarations issued by the EU related to the stay-away on 3 June 2003, the declaration on Freedom of Press issued on 18 September 2003, the declarations issued on 28 November 2003 and most recently on 10 February 2004 on recent events in Zimbabwe. These declarations call the Government of Zimbabwe to respect fundamental rights urging it to engage in active and meaningful dialogue with internal stakeholders on a way forward to solve the current crisis.