Written question asked by Lord Robathan (Conservative) on Friday, 24 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 November 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 3 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 press for the extension of EU targeted sanctions on senior ZANU PF officials to include spouses and children.

Answer: Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press for the extension of EU targeted sanctions on senior Zanu PF officials to include spouses and children. [135221] Mr. Mike O'Brien: When EU sanctions against Zimbabwe come up for renewal in February 2004 we and our EU partners will assess whether the Zimbabwe Government continues to engage in serious violations of human rights and of the rule of law. If the EU judges that the situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated further it may consider extending the sanctions. It would choose to extend them in such a way as to have maximum impact on the decision makers in the Zimbabwe Government. Extending them to relatives of those on the sanctions list (within the limits of other relevant international obligations, for instance the Convention on the Rights of the Child) remains a possibility.

Secondary information