Brussels, 16/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - Given the lack of progress in implementation of the global political agreement (GPA) on power-sharing in Zimbabwe, sanctions imposed on the authorities of this country have been extended by one year until 20 February 2011.
As foreseen, formal decisions on this subject were adopted without debate on Tuesday 16 February (EUROPE 10075). On one hand, they concern restrictive measures imposed on development cooperation between the EU and Zimbabwe under the Cotonou Agreement (the decision relating to extension appeared in the EU Official Journal C28 of 16 February 2010) and, on the other hand, CFSP sanctions targeting Robert Mugabe, as well as a number of people and companies close to him (ZANU-PF) whose activities, the EU believes, seriously undermine democracy, respect of human rights and rule of law.
The list of these some 200 persons and 40 legal entities which, since 2004, have been subject to visa restrictions in member states and which have had their assets frozen in the EU, has been slightly shortened. Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company and Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe are among the companies no longer on the list.
The global political agreement signed in September 2008 between ZANU-PF and two formations of the MDC allowed, in February 2008, for a national unity government to be formed between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, his former rival now prime minister, but restoration of rule of law, implementation of institutional reforms, democratisation of the regime and freedom of the press are still awaited. (A.N./transl.jl)