By Omid Memarian
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 8 2008 (IPS)

U.S. and European efforts to achieve unanimity among the 15-member U.N. Security Council to adopt a sanctions resolution against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his top aides has run into opposition from African leaders who argue that it will only increase tensions there and in neighbouring countries.

South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo Credit: UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

“The statement issued by the G8 today clearly sets out that they deplored the violence they have seen and support the mediation that is on the way and needs to be reinforced by a U.N. envoy,” he added, referring to the Group of Eight most industrialised nations, which are meeting this week in Japan.

The Security Council is expected to vote on the U.S.-backed draft resolution some time this week. French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert told reporters Tuesday that proponents of the resolution had secured nine votes, although Russia, which holds veto power on the Council, is not one of them, and its ambassador has expressed reservations about the draft.

Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change party won more votes than Mugabe’s ZANU-PF in March presidential polls but failed to receive an outright majority. Its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, pulled out of a planned run-off just days before it was held, citing widespread violence against supporters. Mugabe claims to have won 85 percent of the votes cast in the final Jun. 27 polls.

South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo said the Security Council should support ongoing efforts at mediation towards a political solution.

Kumalo said that there are several problems with the proposed sanctions, which include an arms embargo and a freeze on the personal assets of Mugabe and 11 other top government officials.

“One is that this resolution claims that the situation in Zimbabwe is a threat to international peace and security, but the African Union doesn’t believe that, the heads of states that were in Tokyo do not believe that, and neighbouring countries do not believe that,” he said.

“Second, this resolution is under Chapter Seven [of the U.N. Charter]… It says that they want to certify the vote of the first round [won by Tsvangirai],” said Kumalo. “If the Security Council is now going to go to countries and start certifying a part of election, where we are going to stop?”

Kumalo also criticised the European countries’ approach toward the Zimbabwe crisis as not even-handed. “The European Union, through its president, said openly that they want to see the leader of opposition as president of Zimbabwe. Now once you do that you create problems because we want the people of Zimbabwe to select the president through free and fair elections without violence and intimidation.”

“South Africa has been asked to facilitate the mediation by the regional group together with Angola, and we both report to the African Union, which reports to the U.N.,” said Kumalo. “The Europeans are implying that we need a new mediator who is going to come in and impose the candidate on the people. It just creates problems. We are neighbours and we know what we are dealing with.”

However, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the aim of the sanctions is to put pressure on those “who hold the cards… those who need to change their attitude in order for progress to be made, and those are the 12 individuals that are focused on in tailored sanctions.”

Khalilzad said that he expects a vote on the resolution this week. “We support mediation, but mediation has not been effective as it has been conducted so far. It has been going on for a long time and therefore in order to make the mediation more effective we are adding some elements to the equation that there should be more of a U.N. role in support, and that’s why we say that the secretary-general should appoint someone.”

Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro conveyed the secretary-general’s message that the crisis in Zimbabwe represents a “moment of truth” for democracy in the continent.

“The Zimbabwe issue poses a challenge to the world. When an election is conducted in an atmosphere of fear and violence, its outcome cannot have a legitimacy that is not built on the will of the people,” Migiro said following the Security Council meeting.

She added that the question of whether or not to impose sanctions is up to the U.N.’s member states.

“Regarding suggestions that the U.N. may get more involved with a high-level envoy to facilitate the mediation process,” said Migiro, “this suggestion has been discussed and the secretary-general will be open to all suggestions that will lead to a solution of the crisis.”

*With additional reporting by Katie Vandever at the United Nations.

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