adminFRENCH ambassador to Zimbabwe, Laurent Delahousse said yesterday his country welcomed Zimbabwe’s offer to open a new page in relations with the West.
Relations between Zimbabwe and the West have been frosty for over a decade over land reforms the southern African country has undertaken.
Almost en masse, the West imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe to force the country to give up on the agrarian reforms.
Last week, Zimbabwe waved an olive branch to the West, saying it was ready to engage, and restart mutually beneficial economic ties.
Briefing the media after meeting Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Professor Jonathan Moyo at his Munhumutapa offices, Delahousse said France and the rest of Europe was prepared to improve relations with Zimbabwe.
“The meeting was to present a message of friendship of France to Zimbabwe and also a message of appreciation of the new policy which the Government has engaged since the elections which is precisely the policy of engagement with the international community with Europe and with France in particular,” he said.
“The measures that Europe has adopted against Zimbabwe, which you call illegal sanctions, we are reviewing those measures constantly. I hope the new dispensation in Zimbabwe will help us to take the right decision when the time comes and to engage in a more positive approach of co-operation with Zimbabwe.
“To do this everybody must do one’s homework and calls for decisions to be taken in Zimbabwe, decisions to be taken in Europe but I am happy to see that everybody is working towards that in a positive frame of mind in order in particular to improve our economic relations.”
Delahousse said various French companies had expressed willingness to invest in Zimbabwe.
He said the prevailing political stability should be maintained to lure back foreign investors.
He said he was also impressed with steps being taken by Government to restore macro-economic stability. — New Ziana.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter