Media Release
FA146 - 13 October 2002
Australia Implements Bilateral Smart Sanctions Against Government of Zimbabwe
Australia cannot remain unmoved by the tragic situation unfolding
in Zimbabwe. President Mugabe has continually failed to respond to
the international community's profound concern about human rights
abuses and subversion of the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Accordingly,
as the Prime Minister and I have foreshadowed publicly - and as the
Prime Minister has to his colleagues in the Commonwealth leaders'
Troika on Zimbabwe, Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo - the Australian
Government has decided to implement a package of bilateral measures
targeted against the Mugabe Government.
These "smart sanctions" will comprise:
- a ban on travel to Australia by Zimbabwean ministers and certain senior officials;
- a freeze on the Australian assets of such ministers and officials;
- suspension of Australian non-humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe;
- prohibition of defence sales and suspension of all defence links;
- down-grading of cultural links; and
- suspension of bilateral ministerial contact.
It gives Australia no pleasure to announce these measures. Australia
has consistently sought to promote and defend the Commonwealth's fundamental
democratic values. We did so in supporting Zimbabwe's independence
in 1980. We do so again today in support of ordinary Zimbabweans of
every race. The measures I am announcing today are designed to influence
the current government to return to good governance and the rule of
law, while avoiding harm to the people of Zimbabwe. In the course
of this year, the Australian Government has committed $26 million
in humanitarian assistance to southern and eastern Africa, including
Zimbabwe, to combat the effects of drought and governance failures
on the rural poor.
Australia now joins a large group of countries who have imposed
similar targeted sanctions against the Mugabe Government in the wake
of the flawed Zimbabwe presidential elections in March this year.
I call on those in authority in Zimbabwe to take careful note of our
actions and to work with us to restore Zimbabwe to full compliance
with Commonwealth principles.
Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) 02-6277 7500
Lyndall Sachs (Departmental) 02-6261 1555
Local Date:
Tuesday, 22-May-2012 07:05:43 EST
