Russia, China veto UN sanctions on Zimbabwe regime

LINK

UNITED NATIONS - Russia and China vetoed U.S.-proposed sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders Friday, the global community's latest attempt to take concrete action against a regime widely criticized for a violent and one-sided presidential election.

Western powers mustered nine votes, the minimum needed to gain approval in the 15-nation council. But the resolution pushed by the Bush administration failed because of the action by two of the five veto-wielding permanent members.

The other three nations with veto power — the U.S., Britain and France — argued that sanctions were needed to respond to the government-backed violence and intimidation against opponents of President Robert Mugabe before and after Zimbabwe's recent presidential election.

Mugabe's government has denied responsibility for the bloodshed surrounding the vote, which he won after his rival opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dropped out because of attacks on his followers. Tsvangirai's party reported Friday that at least 113 of its members were killed in political violence since March.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad harshly criticized the vetoes, saying "China and Russia have stood with M0ugabe against the people of Zimbabwe."

The action put an end for now to efforts to apply more international pressure on Mugabe's regime and force it to share power with Tsvangirai.

It follows a recent summit where African Union leaders adopted a resolution calling for dialogue in Zimbabwe, but did not directly criticize Mugabe or the runoff vote. The AU leaders said they were "deeply concerned" about the situation but their only promised action was be to support "the will" for a unity government.

The proposal would have imposed an arms embargo on the southern African nation and an international travel ban and a freeze on the personal assets of Mugabe and 13 other officials. It also called for a U.N. special envoy for Zimbabwe to be appointed.

But Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said sanctions would have taken the U.N. beyond its mandate in trying to punish political disputes by "artificially elevating them to the level of a threat" to international peace and security.

Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya, whose nation is one of Zimbabwe's major trading partners, expressed similiar sentiments, saying Zimbabwe should be allowed to resolve its political crisis on its own.

"The development of the situation in Zimbabwe until now has not exceeded the context of domestic affairs," Wang said, adding that sanctions would "interfere with the negotiation process."

Mugabe and Tsvangirai both say they are willing to share power, if only during a transition to new elections, but differ on who should lead it. The long-ruling ZANU-PF party wants Mugabe at the head, something the opposition and Mugabe's critics in the West have rejected.

Mugabe, in power since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980, has been accused of holding onto power through fraud and intimidation and trampling on people's rights. He also is accused of overseeing an economic slide blamed on the collapse of the key agriculture sector after often violence seizures of farmland from whites. Mugabe has claimed his actions are aimed at benefit poor blacks.

In addition to dodging sanctions, Mugabe "will be coming" to the U.N. General Assembly in September, said Zimbabwean U.N. Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku.

Supporters of the resolution had expected Russia and China to abstain because of the depth of the crisis in Zimbabwe.

"They read the situation wrong," Chidyausiku said. "It's the arrogance of the Americans. They think they can rule the world. They can't."

Khalilzad said the vetoes by Russia and China were "disturbing" and called into question Russia's reliability as a Group of Eight partner because he said it had indicated earlier that it would abstain.

Should RUSSIA go to the top of the list?

1) China
2) Saudi Arabia
3) North Korea
4) Sudan
5) Zimbabwe
6) Mexico
7) Israel
8) Venezuela/Cuba
9) Burma
10) Powerful nations that use their power to manipulate other nations to their own benefit regardless of the damage it may cause.

I think Russia was mostly justified in its protection of its people in a province that Georgia was trying to annex. I only hope that the same thing will happen to Albania and that Serbia will be victorious over its hateful enemies......and most of all, that we will not stop them.

Russia's threatening to put missiles in eastern europe because of our missile defense shield system. I say place them at the top of the list.

quote:

Originally posted by 18843120:
1) China
2) Saudi Arabia
3) North Korea
4) Sudan
5) Zimbabwe
6) Mexico
7) Israel
8) Venezuela/Cuba
9) Burma
10) Powerful nations that use their power to manipulate other nations to their own benefit regardless of the damage it may cause.

I respect your Top5...but then, with the exception of #8 and #9, you kind'a lose me.

quote:

Originally posted by KoRnAdvocate:
Russia's threatening to put missiles in eastern europe because of our missile defense shield system. I say place them at the top of the list.

Still not #1, but they're definitely moving up!!


Most recent rankings...


1. Iran
2. North Korea
3. Russia
4. Myanmar (Burma)
5. Syria
6. China
7. Saudi Arabia
8. Venezuela/Cuba
9. Belarus
10. Sudan/Zimbabwe

I think Russia is completely justified in this.

1. Kosovo
2. Sudan
3. North Korea
4. PRC
5. Iran
6. Syria
7. Cuba
8. Mexico
9. Somalia
10. EU