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Zimbabwe: Russia Opposes U.S.-Led Sanctions Drive
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9 July 2008
Posted to the web 9 July 2008
Russia is opposing efforts by the United States to get the United Nations Security Council to impose targeted sanctions against Zimbabwean leaders responsible for political violence.
Although the leaders of the industrial world – including Russia – issued a statement in Japan on Tuesday calling for "financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for violence," the Russian permanent representative at the UN, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters in New York that "the statement… does not refer to the Security Council."
The United States has characterized the situation in Zimbabwe as a threat to peace which justifies the imposition of sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which empowers the council to take steps to maintain or restore international peace and security.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. permanent representative, told journalists in New York Tuesday that "even those" who opposed sanctions "say that the situation... has destabilized the region."
"A quarter of the population of Zimbabwe are now in the neighboring countries," Khalilzad added. "There is more violence to come - which people anticipate if the circumstances are not resolved... There will be more people leaving Zimbabwe to come to the neighboring states. That affects the stability of the neighboring states. You already have seen incidents in South Africa and other places..."
But Churkin said Russia had "serious questions" as to whether the Zimbabwean situation constituted enough of a threat to peace and security to justify Chapter VII measures. He said some elements of the U.S. draft resolution before the Security Council were "quite excessive, in fact incongruous and clearly in conflict with the notion of the sovereignty of a member state of the UN."
Churkin declined to say whether Russia would veto the resolution – "veto is a very big word" – but backed the South African representative, Dumisani Kumalo, who told journalists: "We share the frustration of everybody but we are saying don't take measures that are going to complicate the situation and literally blow the country apart."
Khalilzad suggested there was enough support on the UN Security Council to secure passage of a sanctions resolution this week, provided Russia did not veto it. A resolution needs the support of nine of the 15 members of the council, including permanent members with veto rights, of which Russia is one.
Khalilzad said: "We believe absent a veto - which we do not anticipate, but you can't rule it out... the votes are there to move forward."
He told reporters there was "broad agreement... that the Council cannot be indifferent to what has happened, that action is required." But, he added, "there are differences of view on exactly what should be done. There are some who argue that only political pressure is needed.
"We are of the view that we have been there and done that and have failed to get results... What we have proposed... is very tailored, very focused sanctions, an arms embargo, and targeted sanctions on individuals in whose hands it is to allow a process to start that can produce results."
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Khalilzad asserted that Tuesday's G8 Summit statement on Zimbabwe "has provided the support needed for us here to move. We were going to move in any case. Our... draft resolution predates the G8 statement but we see in the statement support for us to continue the course that we were on."
A Russian veto against a UN security council sponsored sanction resolution against Zimbabwe would the most unsound veto ever cast hitherto, by a veto-wielding power in the UN Security Council. Russia would be showing the world that it's in deed no different from Mugabe's Zimbabwe where democratic principles are trashed under the feet of dictators who seek to hold a whole country at ransom to farther their own misguided, selfish and parochial interest at the expense of the suffering masses. Hasn't Russia done the same to its own democratic reforms? Common Russia, Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans desperately needs to be rid... [Read Full Text]
Please! Democratic principles, Where in Americaca? You need to do your homework or ask somebody. I am so tired of those who have not borne the brunt of US hostilities to black men and women speaking about the Democratic nature of America. America has practiced terrorism against black "americans" since the Declaration of Independence was conceived. Where do you get your information from. Are you aware that as this administration articulates an attack or sanctions against Zimbabwe for election inconsistencies, the 2000 and 2004 elections in America tainted,that actions were initiated purposely in certain states to eliminate/eradicate the black vote... [Read Full Text]
And I suppose the neo-nazi movments gaining prominence in Russia today are doing it as a hobby to get to know black folk?? you are SO blind to the truth it is a crime that you are allowed access to the net to ply us with your garbage!!! google neo-nazi killings in russia and hang your head in shame mate!!!! russia is nobody's true friend..they are a bunch of dictators who happened to be sticking up for their fellow commie mate who was schooled by them in the art of suppression!!! birds of a feather the saying goes!!!!
Dear faaarya, Russia is always a very good friend to Africa. Thanks Russia.
The US will like to cripple all black African countries progressively using all sorts of excuses. Sudan is kept constantly under civil war with the US backing, supplying ammunition and goading the militants to continue fighting and killing of not only soldiers but civilians. In Somalia, the US and its surrogate, Ethiopia, are creating hell for the citizens with the civilians being killed daily. In the Congo, the US has always made sure that the country remains enmeshed in wars since 1961 after the US organized to kill Lumumba and todate over 11 million Congolese civilians... [Read Full Text]
Dear gishola, I would love to know your source of information. Also I would like to know how you get off blaming the US for all the wars in Africa. I am not a US citizen nor am I a US resident, but from what I have read in your post you seem to be extremely determined to blame the US for all the bad that is going on in Africa. I find this very hard to believe!! You also failed to mention the fact that the majority of humanitarian missions conducted in Africa are by US military and civilian... [Read Full Text]
Western countries want Mugabe ousted from power for two reasons. First, Mugabe sent his military to DR Congo in the 1990's to halt the invasion and occupation of DR Congo by the armies of Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. The invasion was financially and militarily sponsored by the USA and UK with the aim of effecting a regime change in DR Congo so that western countries would exploit (loot) the natural resources of DR Congo at will. Up until the time of the invasion, Zimbabwe had been buying its jet fighters from England, with an agreement that the sellers of those... [Read Full Text]
the civil unrest in zimbabwe is due to these unwarantted sanctions againts her,by the west.forcing the skyrokketing of food prices, resulting in the galloping of inflation.does the west think that the solution to the problems in zimbabwe is sanction?anyway thumpsup russia and china for the veto.too wrongs can not make a right.but president mugabe shuold also realise that his cuontry need to be refined.
hey mr Smart,,,how is it then that when there was a FULL trade embargo against rhodesia by the UK AND USA the country then did not suffer the skyrocketting prices or the shortages we now see with limited targetted sanctions??? If you know your history you will know that during rhodesia days foreigners were clamouring to come and live in the country...now white, black, indian..you name it..cant wait to gap the toilet your hero mugabe has turned the beautiful country into. You cannot answer that nor will you ever will for the day you give the correct answer to it... [Read Full Text]
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