Conciliatory end to the ACP-EU Assembly in Brussels
German MEP Karin JUNKER, spokesperson of the Parliamentary Group of the PES for the EU-ACP Joint Assembly, has welcomed the conciliatory ending to the meeting yesterday, called to deal with the crisis following the cancellation of the Joint Assembly meeting foreseen this week in Brussels.
Madame JUNKER explained: "Days full of conflicts with long discussions in the Bureau of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly have concluded satisfactorily with a decision to send a Joint Delegation to Zimbabwe to study the situation on the ground. The Parliamentary Group of the PSE in the JPA has fought very hard for this proposal because it sees this as a great opportunity to get an impression of the consequences of the disastrous policies of the Mugabe regime and also to develop a basis for joint debate at the next plenary session at the beginning of April in Congo-Brazzaville."
"The members of the PES Group of the ACP Bureau are firmly convinced that the ACP members, in the light of the information gathered, will recognise that the Mugabe government is conducting an dangerous policy at the cost of the people of Zimbabwe and crushing the rule of law."
"The PES Group has made it clear in the ACP Bureau, that restrictions on the part of Zimbabwe are as unacceptable as limitations to the programme of the visit. This means that prohibitions and restrictions to the members of the delegation will not be acceptable. Especially co-President Glenys KINNOCK, who must have free access, as well as all the persons and institutions which seek to accompany the delegation."
"We will be looking at an analysis of the situation for the opposition and an investigation into the violations of human rights. There will also be discussions with the government and with groups from civil society, representatives of the media and the business world."
"The PES Group in the ACP Bureau thanks co-president Glenys KINNOCK and co-president HOUNGBEDJI for the willingness to start the discussions again and to come up with a constructive conclusion after what has been a profound disappointment for both parties."
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