HC Deb 12 March 2003 vol 401 cc292-3W
Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those persons the Baroness Amos met during her recent visit to Africa; what discussions she had on the role of Zimbabwe within the African Union during that visit; and if he will make a statement. [101777]

Mr. Rammell

During her recent visit (25 to 28 February 2003) to Africa, my noble Friend Baroness Amos met President Conte of Guinea, President Dos Santos of Angola and President Biya of Cameroon.

She discussed the political, economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe with Angola's President Dos Santos, the current Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list assets frozen under EU sanctions against Zimbabwe, broken down by(a) name of account holder, (b) amount and (c) date on which they were frozen; what impact freezing these assets has had upon the political situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [101778]

Mr. Rammell

The assets freeze has targeted Mugabe and senior Zimbabwean officials. Assets worth £513,367.70 have been frozen in the UK and Dependent Territories under the EU's Common Position. These are held in 25 personal accounts. We are withholding details of the individual account holders under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, as unwarranted disclosure would constitute, or could facilitate, an unwarranted invasion of privacy. We do not have figures for assets frozen by other EU states under the Common Position.

The assets freeze has sent a strong message to the Mugabe regime, underlining the EU's concern at the internal political situation.

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