SUNDAY MAIL
Stalemate in Brussels
By Munyaradzi Huni
ZIMBABWE scored a major victory against Britain in Belgium yesterday when the
African Caribbean and Pacific countries maintained their position that
Zimbabwean delegates to the fifth ACP-EU parliamentary Session should be allowed
into the European Parliament where the meeting is supposed to be held starting
tomorrow.
The European Union, through its Parliament also maintained its position that the
Zimbabwean delegation comprising the Minister of State for State Enterprises and
Parastatals, Cde Paul Mangwana and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic
Development, Cde Chris Kuruneri should be barred from entering its premises.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail from Brussels after a joint parliamentary meeting
between the ACP and the EU yesterday, Cde Mangwana said the ACP countries failed
to agree with the European Parliament on the Zimbabwean issue.
"There is a stalemate. The ACP countries have maintained their position that if
Zimbabwe is expelled from participating at the session then they have no
business to do in Brussels.
"After this stalemate, we are going to meet as the ACP tomorrow (today) to
discuss the way forward. The ACP countries are in full support of Zimbabwe
because they have realised that the Europeans are trying to put them under their
imperialist arms.
"This is a major victory for us. This ACP position is a big victory for us and
we are very happy," said Cde Mangwana on the phone from Brussels.
Sources said it was likely that the ACP countries would return home after their
meeting today. This would embarrass Britain, which has been trying to influence
Third World countries to be hostile to Zimbabwe.
ACP countries held emergency talks last Friday where they threatened to boycott
the meeting with the EU lawmakers. The meeting was scheduled to start tomorrow
up to Thursday.
The European Parliament decided to bar the Zimbabwean delegates from gaining
access to its parliamentary premises saying the two ministers were on the list
of banned Zimbabwean Government and Zanu- PF officials.
South Africa has come out in full support of Zimbabwe's participation at
the meeting.
The ACP countries on Friday wrote to the president of the EU Parliament, Mr Pax
Cox who had asked them to agree to exclude Zimbabwe saying the move contravened
the ACP/EU protocols.
They pointed out that by virtue of rules of procedure, it was only the joint
session that could rule on participation in its deliberations.
Articles cited by the ACP countries that the EU was breaching included protocol
number two to the Cotonou agreement.
The article says representatives of ACP/EU states, their advisers and experts
taking part in the territory of another member state shall enjoy the customary
privileges, immunities and facilities while carrying out their duties.
Members would also enjoy these privileges while travelling to and from the place
at which they are carrying or are required to carry out such duties.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ivinicus factus sum veritabem diceus." ( I have become an enemy for speaking the truth ) St Paul!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mitayo Potosi
_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
