UN Fails to Pass Zimbabwe Economic Sanctions
An Attempt to Isolate Mugabe and his Administration Fails.
The Security Council met on Friday, July 11 to impose an economic sanction on the nation of Zimbabwe, listing the President and 13 senior Government and security officials for the violent crisis is there, but the resolution failed as permanent residents China and Russia used their veto power to nullify the embargo.
Zimbabwean Ambassador, Boniface Chidyausiku, foresaw the result of this meeting. In Zimbabwe's Herald Ambassador Chidyausiku said on July 3rd that the attempts by the west to use the United Nations to affect illegal regime change in Zimbabwe are doomed to fail.
"We have been lobbying members of the Security Council telling them that Zimbabwe is not a threat to regional or international peace and stability and therefore should not be a Council issue," Ambassador went on to state.
In the article Chidyausiku listed China, Russia, South Africa, Libya, Indonesia and Vietnam as Zimbabwe's confirmed allies in the Security Council, so it was no surprise when 5 of these nations voted against the draft resolution with Indonesia abstaining.
The aim of the draft resolution was to determine, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, that the situation in Zimbabwe posed a threat to international peace and security in the region, and would have demanded that the country's Government immediately cease attacks against and intimidation of opposition members and supporters, while beginning a "substantive and inclusive political dialogue" between the parties with the aim of arriving at a peaceful solution that "reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people and respects the results of the 29 March elections."
The representative of the Russian Federation said there had lately been some attempts to take the Council beyond its Charter prerogatives of maintaining international peace and security. Such illegitimate and dangerous attempts could "unbalance" the whole United Nations system. He also said such actions by the body is excessive.
The representative of the United States sat in disappointment as the draft resolution failed to go into effect. " China and Russia stand with Mugabe against the people of Zimbabwe. A majority of the Council stands with the people of Zimbabwe," said Ambassador Khalizad.
Khalizad recalled that the Russian Federation had only recently supported the Group of Eight (G-8) statement recommending the appointment of a special envoy of the Secretary-General and further steps, including financial measures, he said the Russian U-turn was particularly disturbing. "The Russian performance has raised questions about its reliability as a G-8 partner."
Those who opposed the resolution said that there continuing dialogue between the two parties are would lead to the improvement of the humanitarian and economic situation, and would thereby contribute to better living for Zimbabweans.
If the sanction had passed it would have imposed an arms embargo on the country, as well as a travel ban and financial freeze.
