Written question asked by Lord Robathan (Conservative) on Monday, 10 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 November 2003. It was answered by Chris Mullin (Labour) on Monday, 17 November 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to press the United Nations (a) to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe and (b) to debate the issue of Zimbabwe. - Inc ref to 406 c524, 10 June 2003.

Answer: Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to press the United Nations (a) to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe and (b) to debate the issue of Zimbabwe. [138408] Mr. Mullin: We maintain regular contact with the UN Secretary General, the UN Development Programme and the World Food Programme about Zimbabwe. We supported EU resolutions at the UN Human Rights Commission in 2002 and 2003. Regrettably these resolutions fell to `No Action' motions. As right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear to the House on 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 524, we would only go to the United Nations Security Council for a resolution when we believed that we would win one. Tabling a resolution on UN sanctions would be certain to fail and would only hand Mugabe a gratuitous victory. We will continue to encourage the UN to focus on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Secondary information