§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will make a statement on the method by which Zimbabwe could join the Lomé Convention.
(2) if Zimbabwe will enter into an aid and trade relationship with the European Economic Community.
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§ Sir Ian GilmourFollowing independence it will be open to the Government of Zimbabwe, should they so wish, to enter into an aid and trade relationship with the EEC by seeking accession to the new Loméconvention. Under LoméII, as under LoméI, any request for accession has to be referred to the EEC-ACP Council of Ministers. If the latter approve such a request, Zimbabwe would then be able to accede to the new convention.
With regard to the immediate future, the Government have asked the EEC Commission to put forward as rapidly as possible a proposal for an interim trade regime to be applied to Rhodesia by the Community.