SOUTH AFRICA: German Chancellor Angel Merkel meets South African President Thabo Mbeki

Record ID: 455702

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: German Chancellor Angel Merkel meets South African President Thabo Mbeki
  • Date: 5th October 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF THE 21 GUN SALUTE VARIOUS OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL WALKING DOWN RED CARPET WITH GUARDS
  • Embargoed: 20th October 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2MX8SXO5DFURJPLUJML6DZDI6
  • Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday (October 5) described the crisis in Zimbabwe as "disastrous" after talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki, who has been criticised for not taking a tough line on the issue.
    After the talks in Pretoria Merkel said she thanked South Africa for trying to overcome a "very unsatisfactory situation" in Zimbabwe.
    She said the the situation was very difficult if not "disastrous".
    A source familiar with the meeting's agenda said earlier the German chancellor would try to persuade Mbeki to take a harder line with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
    Critics accuse Mugabe of human rights abuses and of presiding over the collapse of Zimbabwe's economy, which has the world's highest inflation rate of about 6,600 percent and unemployment levels of about 80 percent.
    Mbeki has adopted a policy of "quiet diplomacy" toward Mugabe and has been mediating talks between Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the Movement for Democratic Change, the southern African nation's main opposition group.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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