United Nations
08 July 2008
The United States says it believes it has enough votes to move forwardthis week on a Security Council resolution sanctioning Zimbabwe'spresident and members of his inner circle. But some other councilmembers are still expressing doubt over whether sanctions are theappropriate way to go right now. From United Nation's headquarters inNew York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
The U.S.-draftedresolution calls for economic and travel sanctions against ZimbabweanPresident Robert Mugabe and 13 of his closest allies, as well as anexpanded arms embargo against the government.
U.S. Ambassadorto the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad said Tuesday that the SecurityCouncil cannot be indifferent to what is happening in Zimbabwe and thataction is required.
"I believe a clear majority of the councilmembers who spoke - and the numbers that are necessary for aresolution to pass - assuming there is no veto, are there in supportof the course that I have outlined. I think they are persuaded by theargument that we have to act and we have to act in way thatincentivizes cooperation and helps get Zimbabwe out of the currentcrisis," he said.
In order to pass, the measure requires atleast nine of the 15 council members to vote in favor and none of thefive veto-wielding members to vote against it.
The UnitedStates has support from at least two of the other five veto-carryingcountries - France and Britain. China, which has strong trade ties withZimbabwe, is not likely to risk more bad publicity by vetoing themeasure just weeks ahead of hosting the Olympic Games and could eithervote in favor or abstain.
But Russia has expressed serious reservationsabout the resolution. "We need to remind ourselves fromtime-to-time that the U.N. Charter does not empower the SecurityCouncil to interfere in internal affairs of states unless the situationthere poses a threat to international peace and security. There is aserious question in our mind if the situation in Zimbabwe can becharacterized as a threat to international peace and security - atleast to an extent which would warrant passing of a Security Councilresolution under Chapter 7," said Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
Chapter7 of the U.N. Charter authorizes the Security Council to determinethreats to international peace and take military or non-military actionto restore peace and stability.
South Africa has also questionedwhether the situation in Zimbabwe is a threat to international peaceand security. President Thabo Mbeki has been leading regional effortsto mediate an end to the crisis, but so far those efforts have beenunsuccessful and Mr. Mbeki has come under some international criticismfor his soft approach and close relationship with Mr. Mugabe.
SouthAfrica's U.N. Ambassador, Dumisani Kumalo said sanctions would onlycreate more complications. "We understand. We share the frustration ofeverybody. But we say don't take measures that are going to complicatethe situation and literally blow the country apart. Take measures thatwill urge the parties to go ahead and seek a political solution," hesaid.
Several council members have also expressed concern aboutsetting a precedent in interfering in a country's elections, sayingthat is not in the realm of the Security Council's authority.
Duringits meeting Tuesday, the council was briefed privately by U.N. envoyHaile Menkerios, who recently visited Zimbabwe. In a public sessionthey heard from U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon's deputy, Asha-Rose Migiro, justback from the African Union summit in Egypt.
Mrs. Migiro calledthe elections "seriously flawed" and said the only way out of thecrisis is for the two sides to agree on a political solution that wouldpave the way for a democratic transition and economic recovery. Shesaid the creation of a government of national unity as a way forwardenjoys broad support in the region and that the U.N. secretary-generalstrongly supports this recommendation.