Russia, China veto U.N. sanctions on Zimbabwe
UNITED NATIONS —
China and Russia on Friday vetoed a U.S. draft resolution in the U.N. Security Council that would have slapped targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe over his disputed re-election.
China and Russia joined South Africa, Libya and Vietnam in opposing the draft which would have imposed an assets freeze and a travel ban on Mugabe and 13 of his cronies, as well as an arms embargo. Indonesia abstained.
Voting in favor were the United States, Britain, France, Burkina Faso, Belgium, Costa Rica, Italy, Panama and Croatia.
Opponents argued that passage of the text would undermine ongoing South African-mediated negotiations between Zimbabwe’s ruling party and its opposition and would have run counter to the wishes of African Union leaders at their summit in Egypt earlier this month.
They also said Zimbabwe’s political crisis did not amount to a threat to regional or international peace and security and said adopting the sanctions would have amounted to interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state.
The vote came as Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF ruling party and opposition Movement for Democratic Change held a second day of talks in South Africa.
The talks, aimed at laying the groundwork for fully fledged negotiations to resolve Zimbabwe’s political crisis, were the first since Mugabe won a new term as president in a June 27 poll widely denounced as a sham.
Wire reports
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adaydream
If Opponents argued that passage of the text would undermine ongoing South African-mediated negotiations between Zimbabwe’s ruling party and its opposition and would have run counter to the wishes of African Union leaders at their summit in Egypt earlier this month. are really going on, I agree with that.
Allow them to go through their process first. After they have concluded their negotiations, then take appropriate action or propose it then. < :-)
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RepublicofTexas
Didn't see this one coming (sarcasm).
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RepublicofTexas
Mugabe is an insane dictator, he is not going to properly negotiate. He only negotiates so as to postpone the embargo. Also South Africa is being way to soft on Mugabe, they should listen to Zambia. Mugabe is a violator of human rights, he is no better than Mladic or Milosevic. He ordered ethnic cleansing of the Ndebele people. The UN should slap on all the sanctions she can.
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skipthesong
I leave him alone. But, do cut off all support including aid and any type of business internationally.
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Madverts
I personally support a cladenstine snuffing by Mi6 or the CIA rather than al this pussy-footing around. Surely the crazed Mugabe wouldn't be that hard to bump off?
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