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in the run-up to the elections after he began behaving like a contestant.
The EU used that as a pretext to impose economic sanctions on Zimbabwe which have been renewed on February 18 every year since then.
Mr Westcott said there was nothing wrong in Zimbabwe seeking redress in courts over the illegal sanctions the grouping imposed on the country.
He was responding to Harare’s two week ultimatum given to the EU to explain the motive behind the illegal sanctions or face litigation at the General Court of European Court of Justice.
“The measures we have taken were done legally,” said Mr Westcott. “If anybody disagrees with that they are free to challenge it.”
Mr Westcott said the EU would not remove illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, despite acknowledging significant progress recorded by the country.
Zimbabwe has recorded significant progress in the past two years, but the EU official said the Western bloc would not remove the illegal embargo until there was full implementation of the Global Political Agreement and free and fair elections.
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Mr Westcott, who met several senior Government officials in Harare over the past two days including President Mugabe, was addressing journalists at a Press conference.
“Significant progress has been made, especially on the economic side,” he said.
“Significant progress is still to be made on the political side, the situation is still fragile, elections are the solution. As the EU, we will continue to watch events.”
Mr Westcott said his visit to Harare was part of re-engagement efforts and he met President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu and Finance Minister Tendai Biti.
The EU official said he met non-governmental organisations and civic society who raised concerns on issues that include security sector reform, impartiality of the judiciary and intimidation.
In his meeting with President Mugabe on Monday, Mr Westcott was told that the GPA was an internal political arrangement, which Europeans should never use as a pre-condition for the removal of illegal economic sanctions they imposed on Zimbabwe.
Sadc and the African Union have since called for the removal of the sanctions, saying they were hurting ordinary people.
Mr Westcott said the meeting with Minister Mpofu, which he described as productive, centred on the Marange diamonds.
He said their concern was to have Marange diamonds meet Kimberly Process Certification Scheme standards by allowing sufficient transparency.
Mr Westcott also met Zanu-PF national chairman, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo over the illegal sanctions.
Cde Khaya Moyo said the embargo was divisive and uncalled for.
“We had thought that the formation of the inclusive Government would see the sanctions removed to facilitate smooth running of the Government, but it has become dysfunctional because of these sanctions,” he said.
“You are saying you want the inclusive Government to fully implement the GPA, yet the outstanding issues are the sanctions which you imposed.
“These sanctions are inhibiting the implementation of the GPA and we don’t understand why the issue of sanctions should be dealt with outside the GPA, which provides that they have to be removed.”
He said Zanu-PF did not condone violence and would urge its supporters to refrain from any form of fighting.
Cde Khaya Moyo castigated the continued beaming of hate messages into Zimbabwe by pirate radio stations.
In another meeting with the outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Koichi Morita, Cde Khaya Moyo hailed the role played by the ambassador since he came to Zimbabwe.
“You came a day after the signing of the GPA and since you arrived our relations have grown to extreme levels,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
Online Reporter