European Parliament adds pressure on Mugabe
Posted, April 24, 2008 @ 00:00
The European Parliament is calling for the wishes of the Zimbabwean people to be respected and for the democratic transformation of the country to take place.
Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, the British Conservative who has spearheaded the Parliament's opposition to the Mugabe regime, commented:
"Now is the critical moment. We are sending a carefully balanced message that is clear in its intent. We are signalling to elements within the ZANU-PF power structure to choose the path of democracy and to cooperate now with the forces of change.
"We want the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the South Africans in particular, no longer to turn a blind eye to Mugabe's tyranny. They must exercise their responsibilities and insist on a democratic transformation in Zimbabwe.
"We are saying to China to pull the rug on Mugabe. And we are urging the EU and the wider international community to stand ready with a massive package of assistance for Zimbabwe that can be activated as soon as democratic change takes place."
Geoffrey Van Orden has initiated all six resolutions of the European Parliament on Zimbabwe. He is Conservative MEP for the East of England and Conservative Defence Spokesman in the European Parliament.