For a democratic Zimbabwe

Written declaration | Doc. 11733 | 01 October 2008

Signatories:

Mr Jean-Claude MIGNON, France, EPP/CD ; Mr John AUSTIN, United Kingdom ; Mr Denis BADRÉ, France, ALDE ; Mr Laurent BÉTEILLE, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Georges COLOMBIER, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Alain COUSIN, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Daniel DUCARME, Belgium ; Mr Jean-Charles GARDETTO, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Ms Claude GREFF, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Arlette GROSSKOST, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Mike HANCOCK, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Ms Danuta JAZŁOWIECKA, Poland ; Mr François LONCLE, France, SOC ; Mr Theo MAISSEN, Switzerland ; Mr Germinal PEIRO, France ; Mr Maximilian REIMANN, Switzerland ; Mr Frédéric REISS, France, EPP/CD ; Mr André SCHNEIDER, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Miet SMET, Belgium ; Mr Rudi VIS, United Kingdom ; Mr Robert WALTER, United Kingdom, EDG

Thesaurus

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

1 The violence and fraud that punctuated the recent elections in Zimbabwe were yet another illustration of that country’s difficulties in treading a path towards social harmony.

2 Despite the results of the first round of the presidential and parliamentary elections of 29 March 2008 giving a majority to the opposition, the outgoing president did not hesitate to bring violent pressure to bear on the people.

3 In the face of these breaches of the most rudimentary principles of law and human dignity, the international community must, as a matter of urgency, join forces and at last make its voice heard, be it through the Council of Europe, the UN, the European Union or the African Union.

4 We cannot allow ourselves to compromise on the values that must govern the settlement of this situation.

5 It is our wish that a new consultation of the people of Zimbabwe be organised and that the United Nations observe proceedings. It is only such a course of action that could lastingly rehabilitate the political situation in Zimbabwe.

6 No measure, even of a transitional nature, must be overlooked to achieve that aim, particularly measures geared to forming a government of national unity.