§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the first Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 8 January about the presidential election in Zimbabwe (WA 97), what they consider to be "the entire electoral process". [HL2280]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)Ideally, independent observers should be present for as much as possible of the campaign prior to the election, as well as for the voting and counting afterwards. The European Union has called for accreditation of election observers six weeks prior to the election.
§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will announce the benchmark which they intend to use to monitor and evaluate the forthcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe. [HL2281]
§ Baroness AmosWe are discussing with our European Union partners and others the norms and standards we will use to judge the outcome of the forthcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe. We want the EU to publish these well in advance of the election.
§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
What might be the timetable for the suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. [HL2282]
§ Baroness AmosZimbabwe was formally added to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) agenda on 20 December 2001. It will be discussed again at the next CMAG meeting on 30 January. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary set out the Government's position in thy. House of Commons on 8 January(Official Report, col. 400–03). A decision on suspension is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole. Commonwealth Heads of Government will be meeting in early March.