United Nations
02 July 2008
The U.N. Security Council is considering a U.S.-written draftresolution on Zimbabwe that would tighten sanctions against thegovernment of Robert Mugabe and a dozen individuals. From UnitedNation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
TheUnited States is moving ahead with a draft resolution that seeks tofreeze the assets and restrict the travel of Robert Mugabe and 11individuals in or close to his government who have been linked torecent political violence and the undermining of the election process.The proposed resolution also seeks to expand an arms embargo againstthe government.
In a copy of the draft resolution obtained byVOA, President Mugabe is first on the list, and is followed by fivesenior members of his security forces, five members of his governmentand the head of the Reserve Bank.
Britain has strongly supported the U.S. push for tougher sanctions. Britain's U.N. Ambassador John Sawers:
"Icertainly think the council should press ahead with the resolution onsanctions," said Ambassador Sawers. "Yes, I think the situation is verydire there. I think we need to make clear that the views of theZimbabwean people as expressed in the last election that was reasonablyfree and fair - that one on 29 March - needs to be respected. And thenew government needs to be formed on the basis of the views of theZimbabwean people as expressed then."
The draft being circulatedalso demands that Mugabe's government immediately begin talks with theopposition, and asks the U.N. secretary-general to appoint "anindividual of international standing and expertise in human rights" toserve as his special representative and investigate reports of humanrights violations.
Western diplomats say candidates on theshort-list for that appointment include former U.N. chief Kofi Annan,Ghana's President John Kufuor, former Nigerian President OlusegunObasanjo and former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano.
Theresolution also expresses support for the on-going efforts by theAfrican Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) tosolve the post-election crisis.
The U.N. Security Council willbe briefed on the situation in Zimbabwe on Tuesday. U.S. AmbassadorZalmay Khalilzad said U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro,who is attending the African Union summit in Egypt, and U.N. EnvoyHaile Menkerios, who was just in Zimbabwe, would address the council.