SOUTH AFRICA: Zimbabwe crisis tops the agenda, as British PM Blair holds talks with South African President Mbeki

Record ID: 455278

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Zimbabwe crisis tops the agenda, as British PM Blair holds talks with South African President Mbeki
  • Date: 2nd June 2007
  • Summary: JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI, SAYING: "There are problems affecting the Zimbabwe economy, and as consequence of that, the region then said the secretariat of the development committee in the region should have a close detailed look at the Zimbabwe economy, with the view to reporting back as to what might be done to address the challenges, the economic challenges of Zimbabwe. You would know of course that President Mugabe was present at that meeting and agreed all of these suggestions, so it's that two-pronged approach which seeks the solution to this two critical matters. So indeed I did brief the Prime Minister and that is the way we were going." MEMBERS OF VARIOUS DELEGATIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, SAYING: "In the end what is important is to improve the condition of the people of Zimbabwe and the obligation of Britain is to do everything it can to help, but I think people also know that in the end the solution is an African solution for Zimbabwe and that's why I welcome very much the work that President Mbeki is undertaking on behalf of SADC. We wish it well and we will do whatever we can to support the changes necessary to improve a lot of people in Zimbabwe." MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, SAYING: "I feel deeply for Alan Johnston and for his family, we're doing everything we possibly can do to secure his release. I do urge those who are holding him to release him. He's a journalist, doing his work out there, he's someone who's known for his independence, integrity and I don't think I should really comment on the video as such, made in the circumstances which it is. We will carry on doing everything that we can, and hopefully we can secure his release for him and his family." BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI AT NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAC93RTKP1MLEB4AYVDSZCXEMWA
  • Story Text: British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he fully supports South Africa's efforts to mediate in Zimbabwe's escalating political crisis, saying any solution to the stand-off must come from within Africa. British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday (June 1), in the country's capital Pretoria, on the last day of his final tour of Africa as Britain's leader.
    Blair said Mbeki and his regional colleagues were best placed to encourage change by President Robert Mugabe's authoritarian government.
    Southern African leaders have named Mbeki to mediate in Zimbabwe's crisis, where critics accuse Mugabe of a draconian crackdown against his political opponents led by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Zimbabwe police arrested and badly beat MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other MDC members in March after they tried to attend a prayer rally, and opposition leaders and rights activists say the repression continues across the country.
    Mbeki -- who has tried and failed to bring Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF and the MDC to talks in the past -- has said he believes the current mediation is going well, although there has as yet been little public sign of progress.
    "There are problems affecting the Zimbabwe economy...the secretariat of the development committee in the region should have a close detailed look at the Zimbabwe economy, with the view to reporting back as to what might be done to address the challenges, the economic challenges of Zimbabwe," Mbeki said at a news conference.
    British Prime Minister Tony Blair added that what was most important was to improve the condition of the people of Zimbabwe.
    "I think people also know that in the end the solution is an African solution for Zimbabwe and that's why I welcome very much the work that President Mbeki is undertaking on behalf of SADC," Blair added. The British prime minister also called for the release of release of the kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston.
    "I do urge those who are holding him to release him. He's a journalist, doing his work out there, he's somebody who's known for his independence," Blair said.
    The kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent said in a video posted on an Islamist Web site on Friday (June 1) he was in good health and being treated well by his captors, in the first message from him since militants abducted him in the Palestinian enclave 11 weeks ago.
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