08/06/2005 (Agence Europe) On his return from a mission to southern Africa, a region which has been particularly badly hit by drought and the AIDS virus and where he was the special envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations, James Morris, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), presented the results of his mission in Brussels on 3 June. He reported back on his talks with Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, who assured him that the WFP continues to enjoy total independence in its management of international aid within the country. "We can distribute food as we see fit, without the government telling us where to go", Mr Morris told the press, adding that the stance taken by the WFP on the issue was "zero tolerance for state interference". However, Mr Morris told Mr Mugabe that he hoped "Zimbabwe will use the same standards as the WFP" in managing its own aid to stricken populations. He also held satisfactory talks on his return with Commission representatives, stressing that he was "not in Brussels to ask for money", but to seek to boost an already "very strong cooperative relationship".