ID :
11262
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11262
The shortlink copeid
Rudd speaks to UN chief about Zimbabwe
(AAP) - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has spoken to the head of the United Nations about what can be done to alleviate the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is touring Asia, has pledged to work to
mediate the political crisis in Zimbabwe, vowing to spare no effort to find a
solution.
Just hours earlier he had a 25-minute conversation with Mr Rudd, described by the
prime minister's office as productive.
"The prime minister and secretary-general discussed the situation in Zimbabwe," a
spokesman for Mr Rudd said.
"(This included) likely developments at the current meeting of the African Union in
Egypt and what might be discussed by the UN Security Council over the next few
days."
They agreed to meet at the earliest possible opportunity. Mr Ban and Mr Rudd are
both due to attend the G8 summit in Japan next week.
The United States is preparing a new sanctions resolution to take to the Security
Council following the discredited presidential run-off election held at the weekend,
where Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe claimed victory despite being the only
candidate.
He lost the original March ballot to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, from the
Movement for Democratic Change, who pulled out of the run-off vote citing a campaign
of violence against his supporters.
The US admits it will be difficult to get the UN to agree to tough sanctions, with
previous efforts to rebuke the Mugabe regime watered down at the insistence of South
Africa.
Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson urged Mr Rudd to take a stronger line on
Zimbabwe, and use his influence with China to encourage it to take a stand.
"I was extremely disappointed that the United Nations Security Council could only
muster a resolution expressing regret in relation to Robert Mugabe's so-called sham
re-election as the president of Zimbabwe," Dr Nelson told reporters.
"When Mr Rudd was in opposition he said that Zimbabwe should be in the top five
foreign policy priorities for Australia."
Dr Nelson wants Mr Rudd to use his influence with China to get Beijing to stand firm
on Zimbabwe within the UNSC.
"One of the things that Mr Rudd should do at the moment is speak directly to the
Chinese," he said.
"China is a very important player in the United Nations Security Council. It has a
very strong and mature relationship with Australia and it also has a significant
interest in Zimbabwe."
As tensions remain high in Zimbabwe following the poll, the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade reissued its travel advisory urging Australians against travel to
the troubled nation.
"We strongly advise you not to travel to Zimbabwe at this time due to the high level
of election-related violence in many areas, the high level of criminal activity, the
absence of the rule of law, and deteriorating economic conditions which could lead
to civil unrest at any time," it says on its smarttraveller website.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is touring Asia, has pledged to work to
mediate the political crisis in Zimbabwe, vowing to spare no effort to find a
solution.
Just hours earlier he had a 25-minute conversation with Mr Rudd, described by the
prime minister's office as productive.
"The prime minister and secretary-general discussed the situation in Zimbabwe," a
spokesman for Mr Rudd said.
"(This included) likely developments at the current meeting of the African Union in
Egypt and what might be discussed by the UN Security Council over the next few
days."
They agreed to meet at the earliest possible opportunity. Mr Ban and Mr Rudd are
both due to attend the G8 summit in Japan next week.
The United States is preparing a new sanctions resolution to take to the Security
Council following the discredited presidential run-off election held at the weekend,
where Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe claimed victory despite being the only
candidate.
He lost the original March ballot to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, from the
Movement for Democratic Change, who pulled out of the run-off vote citing a campaign
of violence against his supporters.
The US admits it will be difficult to get the UN to agree to tough sanctions, with
previous efforts to rebuke the Mugabe regime watered down at the insistence of South
Africa.
Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson urged Mr Rudd to take a stronger line on
Zimbabwe, and use his influence with China to encourage it to take a stand.
"I was extremely disappointed that the United Nations Security Council could only
muster a resolution expressing regret in relation to Robert Mugabe's so-called sham
re-election as the president of Zimbabwe," Dr Nelson told reporters.
"When Mr Rudd was in opposition he said that Zimbabwe should be in the top five
foreign policy priorities for Australia."
Dr Nelson wants Mr Rudd to use his influence with China to get Beijing to stand firm
on Zimbabwe within the UNSC.
"One of the things that Mr Rudd should do at the moment is speak directly to the
Chinese," he said.
"China is a very important player in the United Nations Security Council. It has a
very strong and mature relationship with Australia and it also has a significant
interest in Zimbabwe."
As tensions remain high in Zimbabwe following the poll, the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade reissued its travel advisory urging Australians against travel to
the troubled nation.
"We strongly advise you not to travel to Zimbabwe at this time due to the high level
of election-related violence in many areas, the high level of criminal activity, the
absence of the rule of law, and deteriorating economic conditions which could lead
to civil unrest at any time," it says on its smarttraveller website.
