EU EXTENDS ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS FOR 12 MONTHS

press tv
Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:20:07 GMT

Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai (L) and President Robert
Mugabe The European Union has extended sanctions against Zimbabwe for
another year, citing lack of progress in the country’s power-sharing
unity government.

The EU sanctions imposed on President Robert Mugabe and some 100 of
his associates include an arms embargo, travel bans, as well as asset
freezes which were first introduced in 2002.

"In view of the situation in Zimbabwe, in particular the lack of
progress in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement
signed in September 2008, the restrictive measures … should be
extended for a further period of 12 months," the official journal of
the European Union said on Tuesday.

A year has passed since the formation of the country’s first
power-sharing government in decades, following an agreement between
the longtime leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai aimed at
ending a post-poll unrest in the country.

The main goal of the new government was to pave the way for necessary
political reforms that would lead to new, free, and fair elections.

However, Mugabe and Tsvangirai have yet to wrinkle out executive
disputes at a time when Zimbabwe is suffering an economic crisis amid
a chronic inflation.

Earlier this week, Tsvangerai, who is the leader of the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change, called for new elections in the
country.