Glenys Kinnock welcomes Brown's principled stand on Mugabe

20th September 2007

REACTING to news UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown may boycott an EU-Africa Summit if Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attends, Euro-MP GLENYS KINNOCK, Co-President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States - EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, today said:

"This is a strong and principled stand by our Prime Minister against a tyrant who would use the Summit as an opportunity to grandstand with all the pomposity and noisy bragging for which he has become known in the world and hated in his own country.

"The reality is that Zimbabwe has been devastated by Mugabe's ruthless and incompetent rule. The Prime Minister's firm stand is for Zimbabwe not against it, and his opposition to Mugabe attending a Summit on the future of Europe's relationship with Africa is completely consistent with his strong and practical commitment to combating poverty and fostering freedom and opportunity in Africa.

"A two-day event in Lisbon in December will be a forum for discussion, but the work to fulfil Europe's commitment to genuine partnership with Africa will continue beyond it and I know that work will have the continued strong leadership of Gordon Brown."

Notes
1. Glenys Kinnock MEP is Labour's European Spokesperson on International Development and Co-President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States - EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.