From: wolda002@umn.edu
Date: Fri Jul 11 2008 - 20:19:15 EDT
China, Russia Veto UN Zimbabwe Sanctions Resolution
By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
11 July 2008
China and Russia have vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution seeking
sanctions against the government of Zimbabwe, its president and members of
his inner circle. The vote on the U.S-drafted resolution comes after more
than a week of diplomatic wrangling, which had the council divided. From
United Nation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
The final vote was nine council members in favor, five against and one
abstaining. But the two "no" votes of China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya Russia and China -- both permanent
members of the council that carry veto power -- defeated the resolution.
China's Ambassador Wang Guangya said the recent African Union summit
clearly rejected the idea of imposing sanctions against Zimbabwe at this
time, and its opinion must be respected. He went on to say that sanctions
would hurt the fledgling negotiations that are going on between President
Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic
Change. "China has always maintained the best approach to solve a problem
are negotiation and dialogue. Internationally to use, or threaten to use,
sanctions lightly is not conducive to solving a problem," he said.
He added that the situation in Zimbabwe is not a threat to international
peace and security and is therefore outside the mandate of the Security
Council, an opinion echoed by Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. "The
council's application here of enforcement measures under Chapter 7 of the
U.N. Charter has no foundation and is excessive. Moreover, this draft is
nothing but the council's attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of
states, which is contrary to the U.N. Charter," he said.
The United States drafted the resolution, which called for an arms embargo
on Zimbabwe's government and travel and financial sanctions against
President Mugabe and 13 of his allies, and Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
criticized his colleagues who defeated it.
"China and Russia have stood with Mugabe against the people of Zimbabwe.
More than a majority of the Security Council members stood with the people
of Zimbabwe by demanding that Mugabe put an immediate end to the violence
and to start serious negotiations with the opposition," he said.
>From its introduction last week, the 15-council members expressed mixed
opinions on the draft and the outcome of Friday's vote was never certain.
South Africa, which is leading the regional mediation effort, expressed
opposition to the resolution from the start and voted against it, saying
time had to be given to those efforts to succeed.
Also opposed were Libya and Vietnam. Indonesia abstained. Burkina Faso said
it was supporting the resolution, but only because of the clause imposing
an arms embargo, saying it was designed to prevent a large-scale military
conflict.
Zimbabwe's ambassador said the countries that voted against the resolution
refused to be intimidated or follow the national interests of a few
countries.
Several council members, including the United States, France and Britain,
said they would continue to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe and would ask
the U.N. secretary-general to appoint a special representative and to
report back periodically to the council on the political and humanitarian
situation in the country.
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