- Title: BELGIUM: EU OBSERVER EXPELLED FROM ZIMBABWE SPEAKS TO MEDIA IN BRUSSELS.
- Date: 19th February 2002
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 18 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF PIERRE SCHORI, WHO LED THE EU MONITORING MISSION TO ZIMBABWE, AT NEWS CONFERENCE. 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) SCHORI SAYING: "We saw a country where citizens seem to be very eager to go out and vote and show what they thought about the situation -- to take their own destiny in their own hands, so to say. But we also saw a lot of violence in the country, also penetrating into the urban areas, which is the difference with the last elections in the year 2000. We also saw how the government imposed new restrictions and conditions on the press, on its own citizens who cannot criticise the president. And they also made life difficult for the EU mission which went to monitor the elections. We can live with that, of course. But there is a limit when we consider that we cannot continue to work efficiently in such a climate". 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) SCHORI FORECASTING HOW HE EXPECTS MUGABE TO REACT TO THE NEWS OF THE SANCTIONS: "I think he will say: that's typical colonial white power arrogance and so on, hiding the fact that there is a pretty terrible situation and a lot of violence out there and I think the blame lies entirely upon the government and the party in power". 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) SCHORI SAYING: "I presented a report here on the status of our mission and I made a conclusion that there was no future for our mission under these conditions and restrictions that were unilaterally imposed by the government". Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 6th March 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVA4PWNN6EUX2FSVDNVXRCO623B9
- Story Text: The Swedish ambassador whose expulsion led to the
European Union imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe on Monday spoke
of the rising tide of violence which threatens to severely
disrupt next months elections in the southern African country.
The European Union on Monday slapped smart sanctions on
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and recalled its team of
observers sent to monitor the southern African countrys
presidential election next month.
The EUs 15 foreign ministers imposed a visa ban and a
freeze on the overseas assets of Mugabe and 19 close
associates after hearing a report from Pierre Schori, the head
of the EU observer mission, who was expelled by Zimbabwe on
Saturday.
Swedish diplomat Schori, ordered to leave Zimbabwe after
being accused of political arrogance, said he recommended
sanctions because of the deteriorating law and order
situation.
There is more violence now, and it is reaching into urban
areas, Schori told a news conference, adding that Zimbabwean
security forces had tried to intimidate the EU observers.
Overall, there are no grounds for an effective or credible
EU observer mission, he said. The 26 observers now in Zimbabwe
are expected to pull out over the next 48 hours.
Asked how he thought Mugabe might react to news of the
sanctions, Schori said: With a shrug of the shoulders.
While the ministers debated the crisis in Brussels, Mugabe
supporters in Harare hurled stones at the main office of
Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change, smashing
windows and forcing pedestrians to flee. Riot police arrested
dozens of protesters, witnesses said.
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