China and Russia veto Zimbabwe sanctions

CHINA and RUSSIA have vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe.

The vote came as a blow for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and Foreign Secretary David Miliband who expected backing for a security council resolution which was drafted by their government and the U.S, government.

Brown was reported as having used ‘shock tactics’ at this week’s G8 summit in Japan, to convince world leaders that imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe was the right direction. He carried a photo, of a driver for Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change who was killed last month, which he showed world leaders to convince them to adopt a resolution on Zimbabwe.

The G8 summit was attended by both Russia and China, who had indicated earlier that although they supported a negotiated settlement in Zimbabwe and described sanctions as excessive.

PM Brown thought he had gained sufficient backing for for the resolution.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband described the two countries’ veto as “incomprehensible”.

Zimbabwe's UN ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku had described the reasons given by the Britain and the U.S. for adoption of the resolution as “flimsy”. He said the “machinations” of the two were failing.

Russia's ambassador Vitaly Churkin, argued that the sanctions would have taken the UN beyond its mandate saying that they were not in the business of condemning or approving electoral processes in member countries.

This view was echoed by China's Foreign Ministry's chief spokesman Liu Jianchao who said sanctions would have complicated the political climate in Zimbabwe and would not help to encourage the various factions engage in political dialogue and negotiations. He said in a statement on his ministry’s website: "Under present conditions, passing a sanctions resolution against Zimbabwe would not help to encourage the various factions there to engage in political dialogue and negotiations and achieve results."

"On the contrary, it would further complicate conditions in Zimbabwe," Liu said, adding that China's call that the African Union (AU) be given more time for mediation was ignored. "The international community should provide constructive help" for South Africa's and the AU's mediation efforts, Liu said. "Avoid adopting actions that could have a negative effect on the atmosphere for dialogue."

China had earlier indicated that it respects and values the position of African countries, and expects the international community to increase positive efforts to facilitate the solution of the Zimbabwe issue. The country had also lauded the efforts made by South African President Thabo Mbeki to promote a home-made resolution of the political situation in Zimbabwe. China also indicated that it supported the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to continue its mediation of the issue.

South Africa also voted against the sanctions resolution and expressed hope that the current negotiations being brokered by President Mbeki will bring the desired peaceful settlement for Zimbabwe.

The proposed resolution had the support of nine council members, the minimum required to pass in the 15-member council, but the veto of any of the five permanent members is enough to defeat a resolution. With two vetoes, this was a huge blow to the U.S. and Britain – the drafters.

The draft resolution had called for international travel bans on President Robert Mugabe and 13 other leading government figures and a freeze on their financial assets held abroad.

Belgium, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Italy, Panama, U.K. and U.S. voted in favour of sanctions.

China (veto), Libya, Russia (veto), South Africa and Vietnam voted against.

Indonesia abstained.