Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/ban2zim080808.html
UNITED NATIONS, August 8 -- The UN's and Ban Ki-moon's approach to Zimbabwe has grown more soft or distant. On August 7, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson
Despite the UN's usual mouthing of the mantra of the end of impunity, Ms. Montas declined to comment on the amnesty provisions, stating instead that "we are not part of the negotiation, which is led, as you know, by President Thabo Mbeki. At this point, the negotiations, as far as I know, Mr. Mbeki is supposed to go back there but so far, Mr. Menkerios is in Pretoria, still discussing the different issues." Video here
But when, the very next day, it was reported that Mugabe has blocked the UN's Haile Menkerios from visiting Zimbabwe, Ms. Montas was that "we are not involved directly" and that she was not aware of Menkerios being blocked.
Some found this strange, given that it has been reported
"Zimbabwe's permanent representative to the UN, Boniface Chidyausiku, confirmed that Menkerios was blocked from visiting Harare. 'The talks have now reached a delicate stage and we don’t want any interference. Why does he want to engage in a parallel process?' he said. Diplomatic sources said Menkerios -- who was due in Harare today -- was told by Zimbabwean authorities... that even if he arrived there, no official would meet him and his visit would not be regarded as authorized... UN spokesman Farahan Haq said yesterday Menkerios was in Pretoria and 'arrangements are still being made for his visit' to Zimbabwe. UN representative in Harare Agostinho Zacarias is expected to travel to Pretoria today to meet Menkerios."
It's worth noting that just after the U.S.-sponsored sanctions resolution failed due to Russia's and China's double veto, Ban through Ms. Montas harshly criticized Amb. Boniface Chidyausiku for questioning the objectivity and impartiality of the UN's Department of Political Affairs, click here
Later on August 7, Inner City Press asked U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for the U.S. position on amnesty for Mugabe. His answer was long, but he did not address amnesty until he was walking away from the stakeout, when he deployed the "we are against impunity" phrase. Video here
Inner City Press: There are reports of this draft power sharing agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai that would provide for blanket amnesty for all crimes committed in the past. Given the US's position in the sanctions resolution that didn’t pass, what does the US think of a power sharing agreement that provides for blanket amnesty.
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well first we have to see that there is an agreement that restores legitimacy to Zimbabwe. There is a crisis of legitimacy there because of did not happen and what happened there in the second round of elections. Whatever happens has to respect the results of March the first round and two has to be acceptable to the opposition and we will have to see. And second there is also a crisis of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. Still there are conditions on NGO operations in Zimbabwe. Those need to be removed and removed immediately. So we want these negotiations to succeed, we want there to be a path to establishment of legitimate order in Zimbabwe.
We thought the way to bring that about was to put pressure on Mr. Mugabe and those responsible for the crisis by putting focused sanctions on them. But some thought that no, that is not the best way, and that the best way is to proceed without sanctions. So the burden is on those who disagreed with our approach to produce results. And I think we are not there yet. We haven't seen anything that can assure us that both the crisis of political legitimacy and the crisis of humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe is being effectively addressed, yet. But, you know we will see. We will see what happens. Thank you very much.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban2zim080808.html
