Implement GPA to normalise relations –– EU

Comment & Analysis
HEAD of delegation of the European Union (EU) Xavier Marchal yesterday said Europe was ready to restore relations with Harare if the country fully consummates the global political agreement (GPA).

HEAD of delegation of the European Union (EU) Xavier Marchal yesterday said Europe was ready to restore relations with Harare if the country fully consummates the global political agreement (GPA).

Opening an Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) seminar in the capital, Marchal said the EU was not pushing for regime change as claimed by President Robert Mugabe.

His remarks also downplayed government claims that the decade-long economic recession was caused by EU and United States sanctions imposed on the country.

“This is the reality of the EU-Zimbabwe relationship and prospects for normalisation,” said Marchal. “There is no such thing as a regime-change agenda. Rather, there is readiness from the EU to re-engage with the inclusive government with Robert Mugabe as President and Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister, on the basis of an agreed methodology.

“A methodology of this re-engagement process was agreed: Zimbabwe to demonstrate GPA implementation through a road map, the EU to respond by its own road map of progressive normalisation…Trade relations are not the subject of restrictions from the EU. The EU as a block continues to be the major trading partner of Zimbabwe with several EU member states as most important markets in the EU.”

He said the EU has committed more than 700 million euros in Zimbabwe since 2002 through humanitarian and technical support.

 

Bernard Mpofu