Posted on 02/12/2002 7:15:46 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
HARARE, Zimbabwe - European Union officials were deadlocked with Zimbabwe on Tuesday over the government's refusal to accept the Swedish head of the EU's election observer mission and team members from five other European countries.
The government insisted Tuesday it will not allow Pierre Schori, Sweden's ambassador to the United Nations and representatives from Britain, the former colonial power, Denmark, Finland, Germany and The Netherlands to observe sharply contested March 9-10 presidential elections.
It accuses the six nations of bias in favor of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, the biggest challenge to President Robert Mugabe since he led the nation to independence in 1980.
Schori said he was awaiting clarification Tuesday from the government on his status and "how the government looks on the EU mission in general."
Zimbabwe-based European ambassadors were seeking official notification after state television and government-controlled newspapers reported he would not be acredited to observe the elections.
"There must be a clear position. It is a serious matter. We cannot base our relations on statements we only read in the newspaper," Schori told reporters.
Earlier Tuesday, 13 European observers arrived in Harare. None was from countries the government says is barred.
Stefan Amer, a spokesman for Schori, said the veteran Swedish diplomat had not received official notification of his status. "We are waiting to see what happens," he said.
In Brussels, Belgium, the EU head office said it awaited official confirmation of the Harare government's refusal to accredit Schori.
The EU has threatened to impose sanctions if it cannot freely monitor the presidential elections. "We hope very much we don't have to go there," said EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin, referring to sanctions.
Sanctions may be discussed as early as Wednesday at a meeting of ambassadors of the 15 EU nations, or at an EU foreign ministers meeting next Monday, officials said.
State television on Monday described Schori as "a mere tourist to Zimbabwe" who had not been cleared to lead a delegation of 150 EU election observers.
Schori, who arrived in Harare late Sunday and had been expected to immediately apply for accreditation with election officials, was given a two-week tourist visa.
The television said Zimbabwe insisted EU observers be led by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping of nations to which the EU is allied through trade agreements.
It quoted Zimbabwe foreign minister Stan Mudenge saying Schori had not been invited and observers from only nine of the 15 EU member nations would be permitted to monitor election campaigning and polling.
Schori said the ACP grouping was sending four observers - two each from Namibia and the Sudan.
"They were not aware this was to be a joint effort. They were a bit surprised," he said.
The state-controlled Herald newspaper said Tuesday Schori was welcome to visit the Victoria Falls resort in northwestern Zimbabwe and other tourist attractions, but he would not be accredited alongside other election observers.
Amer said EU observers arriving this week will be briefed and sent into the field by Friday.
It was not clear what action the government would take if Schori and other barred Europeans traveled widely around the country and visited areas not on regular tourist routes.
The EU has warned Zimbabwe of sanctions unless the elections are free and fair, and unless observers and international journalists are allowed to work unhindered.
Political violence has intensified ahead of the presidential vote in which Mugabe, 77, and his increasingly unpopular ruling party face opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, 49, a charismatic former labor leader.
The opposition narrowly lost to Mugabe's party in parliamentary elections in June 2000, a vote also marred by political violence.
Schori headed the EU observer delegation to those polls. He said the vote was not free and fair, citing the violence and intimidation - mainly against opposition supporters.
The Netherlands and Britain host short-wave radio stations that beam programs into Zimbabwe that the government has described as hostile propaganda in support of the opposition.
Germany and the Nordic countries have been outspoken critics of human rights violations in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe rejects EU poll observer-murder/mayhem rule:opposition "stretched to the limit"
Ireland's Edward Hargan, a member of the European Union (EU) Election Observer Mission to Zimbabwe, arrives in Harare, February 12, 2002. The Zimbabwe government has stated that it will not allow observers from six EU countries, Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Finland to witness the Presidential elections scheduled for March 9 and 10. REUTERS/Howard Burditt
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