EU promises not to interfere with elections

In an interview, the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Aldo Del Ariccia said there was no need for members of the bloc to be meddlesome.

“I consider the relationship between the EU bloc countries and Zimbabwe is positive as of now. The EU has taken several steps in reengaging Zimbabwe and several people were taken off the economic measures that did not permit trade with Zimbabwe,” Ambassador Del Ariccia said.

“In July the measures that did not permit to have bilateral cooperation (with Zimbabwe) were suspended. We are progressing as agreed with the reengagement with the committee on Zimbabwe.

“We really hope all efforts will be done to conclude the constitutional process and take all necessary steps for the progression of credible and peaceful elections that complete a normal relationship. It is a commitment Zimbabweans have taken themselves in the GPA and it is something the facilitator (Sadc appointed South Africa) is asking for as well,” Ambassador Del Ariccia said.

The EU members will meet in February next year to review their position on the illegal sanctions the members slapped on Zimbabwe and the positive developments on the ground, some observers say are likely to influence their new position.

He said President Mugabe’s speech at the just ended Zanu-PF’s 13th Annual National People’s Conference in Gweru meant the country was progressing positively.

“As diplomats we were invited to the opening of the conference and President Mugabe always surprises everybody. This year President Mugabe’s speech was different and was purely that of a party leader speaking to his people.

“He focused on issues which are internal and in my view it was remarkable. He also asked all veterans to stick together and denounced corruption. This time it was different because we have been used to certain types of presentations from him,” Ambassador Del Ariccia said.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Ariccia was on Star FM radio on Monday where he spoke about the Nobel Peace Prize the EU won recently.

The EU was handed the prize on Monday in Norway city Oslo for promoting peace and human rights in Europe following the World War II, and the bloc was urged to use that unity in its battle with an economic crisis that is causing suffering for many of its citizens.

The bloc got the prize despite some its members such as France having been accused of funding wars and causing illegal regime changes in North Africa.

In defence, Ambassador Del Ariccia said the decisions to move into those countries were taken after United Nations resolutions.

“The Libyan case is absolutely not an EU issue since the action was decided at the level of UN. It was a UN and AU resolution and decisions were taken at an international level. The fact that the country (Libya) is going from bad to worse I think we should ask the people to say what they think about the repression.

“You cannot change the situation in a couple of years but give them time to think over the years. I do not think carrying out decisions taken at the international level can be considered as war mongering unless we consider UN and AU as also warmongers.

“What happened in Libya was operationalising decisions that were taken by several international organisations including African organisations,” he said.

He said at times military interventions were necessary and there were AU forces that intervened in some missions in the world.

“I am not sure the arms used in civil wars are EU arms. I think they are coming from other countries not in the EU. We have taken mechanisms that lead to embargoes of arms that are violating human rights.”

He said the Nobel Peace Prize with prize money of $1.2 million and handed to the EU was a surprise to many people at a time when there was a crisis in EU.

“We would not be discouraged by the negative criticism and the prize is a reminder of what the EU stands for which is to transform war torn continent into a peaceful continent. The prize is not always given to an individual, but nongovernmental organisations like Amnesty International.”

Asked to comment on remarks by Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa that former US President Mr George Bush and former British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair be brought before the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity, he said: “I do not think there is a need to comment on what has been said by Mr Tutu. He says things on facts he knows.”

The international court has been abused by the West and more African leaders have appeared before it.

About 20 European government leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Premier Mario Monti, attended the ceremony in Oslo, Norway, an oil-rich country that has twice rejected joining the EU.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso received the prize from Norwegian Primier Jens Stoltenberg.