ugnet_: Mugabe accepts French invite-BBC

Omar Kezimbira Fri, 24 Jan 2003 14:26:17 -0800

Friday, 24 January, 2003, 18:59 GMT

Mugabe accepts French invite

Mugabe blames his problems on the UK

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has accepted an invitation from France to take part in a summit of African heads of state in Paris in February.

"We were invited and we accepted," Foreign Affairs Senior Secretary Willard Chiwewe told the state-run Herald daily.

Mr Mugabe is currently banned from entering the European Union because of doubts about the legitimacy of his re-election last year.

It amounts to a recognition and support of Mugabe's gruesome record at home

Morgan Tsvangirai
Zimbabwean opposition leader

Zimbabwe's opposition has called the invitation to the long-standing ruler a tragedy.

But French President Jacques Chirac was convinced that the Zimbabwean leader's presence at the summit would help promote justice, human rights and democracy in his country, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau told journalists.

The EU travel ban, along with a freeze on Mr Mugabe's assets, was imposed last February. The UK Government will seek to renew it at a meeting of EU foreign ministers next week.

If the sanctions are not extended, Mr Mugabe will be able to attend the summit on 19 February - the day after they expire.

Correspondents say that France sees itself as Africa's best friend on the international stage.

It recently extended a $3m grant to help some eight million people in need of food aid in Zimbabwe.

Correspondents say that as relations between the UK and Zimbabwe have deteriorated, France has been moving closer to Mr Mugabe's government.

Mr Rivasseau said France understood the "emotion and indignation" of the British over the visit but added that no sanctions would be broken.

'Affront'

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has condemned the French offer.

"Any avenue granted to Mugabe to attend international meetings at which he is treated as a statesman and an equal is an affront to the feelings of the people of Zimbabwe," said MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Eight million Zimbabweans need food aid

"It amounts to a recognition and support of Mugabe's gruesome record at home."

UK Government minister Peter Hain said: "As far as we are concerned he is not welcome in Europe.

"Our views on his odious regime and the way he is devastating his country are well known.

"I am sure the French share that view."

But British Member of the European Parliament Glenys Kinnock said the UK was considering doing a deal to let Mr Mugabe attend the Franco-African summit.

London might allow the Paris visit to happen in return for an assurance that Mr Mugabe will not be invited to the EU-Africa summit in Portugal in May, she said.


	WATCH/LISTEN

	ON THIS STORY

		The BBC's Jonathan Beale "Any signs of appeasing Mr Mugabe will anger Zimbabwe's opposition"

		Michael Ancram, Conservative spokesman "I think it's very bad for the poor suffering people of Zimbabwe"