EU/South Africa

Europe backs Mbeki's mediation on Zimbabwe

Article published on the 2008-07-26 Latest update 2008-07-28 10:10 TU

Sarkozy (C) and European Commission President Manuel Barroso (R) welcome Mbeki
(Photo: Reuters)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy described South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation efforts in Zimbabwe as "courageous", at the first-ever European Union-South Africa summit in Bordeaux on Friday. Sarkozy offered the EU's support for the current discussions between the Zimbabwe's rival parties but the summit threatened further sanctions if there is no positive outcome.

Sarkozy declared the talks between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as the only possible solution for the moment.

But he added that  he would not talk to Mugabe himself, because of his conduct during the recent presidential election, and the EU on Tuesday imposed new sanctions  on Harare.

Mbeki declared himself grateful for the EU's support.

The summit, which Sarkozy cut short so as to go and meet US presidential candidate Barack Obama in Paris, also called on Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir to make the "necessary effort for the international community to understand that he has heard the message" addressed to him by International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.