British Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed on Tuesday that he will boycott a European Union-Africa summit to be held in Lisbon next month in protest at the participation of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
”I will not be attending this summit,” Brown said at a press conference at Downing Street.
The British leader first threatened to boycott the summit back in September, but his decision met with little support among EU countries and was criticised in Africa.
Brown’s office said later that Britain would not leave its chair empty at the meeting in the Portuguese capital on December 8 and 9, but that no decision had been taken on who would attend.
However, there would be no representation at senior government level.
”Given the circumstances of the last 10 years and our attempts to give assistance in Zimbabwe, which have been thwarted and resisted, it is not possible for us to attend this summit and sit down with President Mugabe,” said Brown.
However, if Zimbabwe were to ”move away from conditions of oppression and repression”, Britain would support reconstruction efforts in the Southern African state, which is a former British colony.
”If Zimbabwe was able to restore democracy, to have free and fair elections, we would be willing to support the reconstruction efforts of the Zimbabwean people because we both feel sad and believe something can be done about a situation where so many people, unfairly, have been forced into poverty and where the world is waiting to act to relieve that suffering,” said Brown.
Reports from Brussels said on Tuesday that Mugabe (83) had announced his intention to take part in the talks.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has repeatedly said that the summit meeting was more important than what he termed a personality clash between individuals.
While most EU members say they agree with Brown’s views on the Mugabe regime, and the abuse of human rights in a country that is now in economic meltdown, none has so far signalled a similar step.
The Commission says that Mugabe’s presence in Lisbon would be used to raise the issue of human rights.
”The Commission hopes that this will be raised both by European and African partners,” a spokesperson said. — Sapa-dpa