§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to support independent broadcasters broadcasting to Zimbabwe from outside Zimbabwe. [135209]
§ Mr. MullinWe have made clear our support for strong, independent media reporting on Zimbabwe. The Government works with a variety of civil society and media organisations in and outside Zimbabwe to this end. We do not publish details of our co-operation with such organisations.
§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has raised the issue of Zimbabwe with the South African Government during their recent visit to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [135210]
409W
§ Mr. MullinMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I had useful discussions about Zimbabwe with Foreign Minister Zuma and other South African participants in the recent London conference.
§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy(a) to unilaterally strengthen sanctions against Zimbabwe and (b) to seek the strengthening of sanctions against Zimbabwe by the EU. [135216]
§ Mr. MullinWe keep our policy on sanctions against Zimbabwe under regular review. We favour multilateral sanctions wherever possible because these have a greater practical impact and send a stronger political signal.
The EU sanctions on Zimbabwe were imposed in response to serious violations of human rights and the rule of law. The present sanctions expire in February 2004. We and our EU partners will decide then, in the light of the situation in Zimbabwe, whether to maintain or amend the present arrangements.
§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press for the extension of EU targeted sanctions on senior Zanu PF officials to include spouses and children. [135221]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWhen EU sanctions against Zimbabwe come up for renewal in February 2004 we and our EU partners will assess whether the Zimbabwe Government continues to engage in serious violations of human rights and of the rule of law. If the EU judges that the situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated further it may consider extending the sanctions. It would choose to extend them in such a way as to have maximum impact on the decision makers in the Zimbabwe Government. Extending them to relatives of those on the sanctions list (within the limits of other relevant international obligations, for instance the Convention on the Rights of the Child) remains a possibility.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 21 October 2003,Official Report, column 537W, on the Zimbabwe cricket tour, what advice was given to the England and Wales Cricket Board by his Department's officials on the matter of the political situation in Zimbabwe. [135369]
§ Mr. StrawFCO officials have not provided ECB officials with detailed briefing on the current political situation in Zimbabwe. The basic facts about this are in any event in the public domain. The ECB has not requested such a briefing so far in advance of the England cricket team's tour of Zimbabwe which is scheduled for late 2004. FCO officials have informed ECB officials about some key dates coming up in relation to Zimbabwe. They will continue to respond to requests from the ECB and other organisations for information on the political situation inside Zimbabwe and on safety and security issues.