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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe shrugs off Brown boycott | Mugabe shrugs off Brown boycott |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| President Robert Mugabe will defy Prime Minister Gordon Brown's boycott threat if invited to attend a Europe-Africa summit, says Zimbabwe's UN Ambassador. | |
| Boniface Chidyausiku said Mr Brown had "no right to dictate" who should be at the meeting in Portugal in December. | Boniface Chidyausiku said Mr Brown had "no right to dictate" who should be at the meeting in Portugal in December. |
| It follows Mr Brown's threat that he will not attend the summit of African and EU leaders if Mr Mugabe is there. | It follows Mr Brown's threat that he will not attend the summit of African and EU leaders if Mr Mugabe is there. |
| He claims Mr Mugabe's presence will "divert attention" from big issues such as poverty, climate change and health. | He claims Mr Mugabe's presence will "divert attention" from big issues such as poverty, climate change and health. |
| But Mr Chidyausiku accused Mr Brown of seeking to "multilateralise" an argument between the UK and Zimbabwe. | But Mr Chidyausiku accused Mr Brown of seeking to "multilateralise" an argument between the UK and Zimbabwe. |
| The leader of one of Zimbabwe's neighbours, Zambia, has already told a local newspaper that if Mr Mugabe is not allowed to attend the summit, then neither will he. | |
| 'Part of Africa' | 'Part of Africa' |
| In an interview with BBC2's Newsnight, Mr Chidyausiku said Mr Mugabe had a "sovereign right" to attend. | In an interview with BBC2's Newsnight, Mr Chidyausiku said Mr Mugabe had a "sovereign right" to attend. |
| "Gordon Brown has no right to dictate who should come to Lisbon," he said. | "Gordon Brown has no right to dictate who should come to Lisbon," he said. |
| "Definitely we are going if we are invited because we are part of Africa." | "Definitely we are going if we are invited because we are part of Africa." |
| No invitation has yet been sent to Mr Mugabe, according to senior sources in the Portuguese government. | No invitation has yet been sent to Mr Mugabe, according to senior sources in the Portuguese government. |
| The sanctions are an indication of the abhorrence of people in Europe about what is happening in Zimbabwe Gordon Brown | The sanctions are an indication of the abhorrence of people in Europe about what is happening in Zimbabwe Gordon Brown |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC World Service that Mr Brown's view was the right one. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC World Service that Mr Brown's view was the right one. |
| "An EU-Africa summit can only become a media circus if it's dominated by Robert Mugabe sitting next to Gordon Brown," he said. | "An EU-Africa summit can only become a media circus if it's dominated by Robert Mugabe sitting next to Gordon Brown," he said. |
| "We don't think that it's right to be discussing good governance, human rights, economic development as if there isn't the tragedy unfolding in Zimbabwe that is unfolding at the moment, unfolding as a direct result of the policies being pursued by Mr Mugabe." | "We don't think that it's right to be discussing good governance, human rights, economic development as if there isn't the tragedy unfolding in Zimbabwe that is unfolding at the moment, unfolding as a direct result of the policies being pursued by Mr Mugabe." |
| Further sanctions | Further sanctions |
| EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel has also backed Mr Brown, demanding Mr Mugabe be banned from the summit. | EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel has also backed Mr Brown, demanding Mr Mugabe be banned from the summit. |
| In order to allow Mr Mugabe to attend the conference, EU member states would have to convene before the summit and agree to lift the travel ban currently imposed on him. | In order to allow Mr Mugabe to attend the conference, EU member states would have to convene before the summit and agree to lift the travel ban currently imposed on him. |
| But the prime minister has indicated that Britain will call on the European Union "in the next few days" to extend travel and financial sanctions against Zimbabwe's ruling party. | But the prime minister has indicated that Britain will call on the European Union "in the next few days" to extend travel and financial sanctions against Zimbabwe's ruling party. |
| "We are prepared to consider further sanctions," he told ITN. "The sanctions are an indication of the abhorrence of people in Europe about what's happening in Zimbabwe." | "We are prepared to consider further sanctions," he told ITN. "The sanctions are an indication of the abhorrence of people in Europe about what's happening in Zimbabwe." |
| The BBC's Europe editor, Mark Mardell, said he understood diplomats were being "very active in trying to find a compromise". | The BBC's Europe editor, Mark Mardell, said he understood diplomats were being "very active in trying to find a compromise". |
| This could involve inviting another Zimbabwean representative, such as a junior member of the government or a civil servant, so that Mr Brown could attend, our correspondent said. | This could involve inviting another Zimbabwean representative, such as a junior member of the government or a civil servant, so that Mr Brown could attend, our correspondent said. |
| 'Serious opportunity' | 'Serious opportunity' |
| Portugal, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is keen to invite every African leader to be at the summit on 8 and 9 December, but may let the African Union decide who should attend. | Portugal, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is keen to invite every African leader to be at the summit on 8 and 9 December, but may let the African Union decide who should attend. |
| Denominations of bank notes have risen owing to levels of inflation | Denominations of bank notes have risen owing to levels of inflation |
| Mr Brown described the summit as a "serious opportunity" to forge stronger partnerships between Africa and the EU. | Mr Brown described the summit as a "serious opportunity" to forge stronger partnerships between Africa and the EU. |
| He said: "I applaud the prime minister of Portugal for what he is trying to do to build stronger relations between Europe and Africa. This is a summit that is necessary for Africa's sake. | He said: "I applaud the prime minister of Portugal for what he is trying to do to build stronger relations between Europe and Africa. This is a summit that is necessary for Africa's sake. |
| "But of course it would be totally inappropriate for me to be there if President Mugabe [is]." | "But of course it would be totally inappropriate for me to be there if President Mugabe [is]." |
| He went on: "Four million people have left the country. Four million people on food aid because of famine by Christmas, 80% unemployment, life expectancy at 37." | He went on: "Four million people have left the country. Four million people on food aid because of famine by Christmas, 80% unemployment, life expectancy at 37." |
| He said humanitarian aid was being stepped up and promised to press the UN Security Council for an envoy to "look and report on the situation". | He said humanitarian aid was being stepped up and promised to press the UN Security Council for an envoy to "look and report on the situation". |