EU Sanctions Against Zimbabwe - February 18, 2002

EU Sanctions Against Zimbabwe - February 18, 2002. On Monday, February 18, 2002, EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe. The European Union is considering targeted sanctions against Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, and his close associates. This meeting follows the action of the Harare government in expelling the head of a European delegation that had come to monitor the upcoming presidential elections in Zimbabwe. Pierre Schori, a Swedish diplomat who led the EU delegation to Zimbabwe, was forced to leave the country on Saturday. Mr. Schori stated that these sanctions would only be applied as a last resort if Zimbabwe refuses to allow foreign observers to monitor its presidential elections. Zimbabwe has announced that it will not accept observers from six European countries, including Sweden. Following the expulsion of the head of the EU delegation from Harare, tensions between the Zimbabwean government and the EU have escalated. The mission of this delegation was to oversee the presidential elections next month. Zimbabwean officials canceled the visa of Pierre Schori, the head of the EU observers, on Saturday. Mr. Schori, who is Sweden's representative to the United Nations, described the Zimbabwean government's decision as regrettable. EU foreign ministers are set to discuss sanctions against Zimbabwe on Monday. The EU had warned the Zimbabwean government that if it obstructs the observer mission, it may face sanctions from the Union. Zimbabwe has barred observers from Sweden and five other countries that have criticized the ongoing violence against government opponents.