Written question asked by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 18 May 2007. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 June 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Zimbabwe: UN Commission on Sustainable Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on the election of the Zimbabwean Environment and Tourism Minister, Francis Nhema, as Chairman of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD); whether he remains subject to a travel ban under the EU Council Common Position 2007/120/CFSP, 19 February 2007; and whether Mr. Nhema will be denied entry to, or transit through, European Union member states when travelling on UNCSD business.

Answer: The EU called for the vote against the nomination of Francis Nhema as chairman of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and the UK, with 20 other EU and like-minded states, voted against his candidacy. On behalf of all EU member states, the EU presidency made a statement following the vote which expressed deep concern that a representative from Zimbabwe should become chair as this will have a negative impact on the Commission’s work and on the Commission’s credibility. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Ian Pearson, on behalf of the Government, have since publicly condemned the decision to appoint a Zimbabwe Minister to this position.Francis Nhema remains subject to a travel ban under the EU Common Position and will be denied a visa to visit or transit EU member states, unless one of the exemptions covered by Article 4 of the Council Common Position 2004/161/CFSP applies. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library of the House.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 138567; 461 c461-2W
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP 07/1375
Monday, 11 June 2007
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Zimbabwe UN Commission on Sustainable Development
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk