§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action can be taken against UK national companies involved in business with Zimbabwean companies classed as SDNs under United States Executive Order 13288; if he will make a statement on the extension of EU sanctions to include such measures; and when he expects EU sanctions to match those of the US. [159889]
§ Mr. StrawOn 21 February 2004 the EU's restrictive measures were renewed and extended to a larger number of Zimbabwean individuals who are responsible for policies that lead to the suppression of human rights, of the freedom of expression and of good governance. One of the measures is an assets freeze against a new list of 95 individuals. The US has similar measures against only 77 individuals. It would therefore be a backward step for the EU's measures to "match" those of the US in this regard.
On 3 March, the US announced that it was also freezing the assets of seven companies, controlled by three of Mugabe's closest confidantes—Information Minister Moyo, Speaker Mnangagwa and ex-Army Chief Zvinavashe. The UK and EU have already frozen 1708W to British consulates in (a) Slovakia, (b) Turkey and (c) Croatia were (i ) received and (ii) processed in each year since 1990. [159742]
§ Mr. MullinThe following table shows figures for the number of entry clearance applications received and resolved in Slovakia, Turkey and Croatia since 1997, Figures for the years before 1997 are not readily available.
the identifiable assets of those individuals. The EU measures target individuals, not companies. The UK and other member states have taken the view that targeting companies risks harming ordinary Zimbabweans who are already suffering under the present regime.