Brussels, 19/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - Encouraged by Zimbabwe's progress along the road to democracy, the European Union has decided to waive the visa ban that affected six members of the government, and to withdraw 21 individuals and one economic entity (Zimbabwean Mining Development Corporation, ZMDC) from the list of 112 individuals and entities subject to targeted sanctions.
This decision was taken without debate on Monday 18 February, during the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. In unanimous Council conclusions, the EU welcomes the agreement found between the political parties on the final draft constitution and the announcement that a referendum is to be held mid-March on that draft constitution. The latter will limit both the president's immunity and the duration of his mandate. This is a decisive step towards implementing the Global Political Agreement (GPA) of 2005, which, as the Council states, “adds further momentum to the reform process and paves the way for the holding of peaceful, transparent and credible elections”. The general elections are scheduled for July. The lifting of the embargo on the company ZMDC, that Belgium has been pressing for, will come after the elections. The EU calls on all the political parties of Zimbabwe to keep up this momentum in order to fully implement the GPA and the road map established by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with the prospect of free and democratic elections in 2013. (AN/transl.jl)