Mugabe - Sweden and EU's dilemma

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is facing a tough foreign policy choice: to face or boycott Zimbabwe's despot Robert Mugabe in the forthcoming December 8 summit meeting between the European Union and the African Union. The Liberal Party member of the Alliance government, through spokesperson Birgitta Ohlsson is urging Reinfeldt to boycott Mugabe, thereby refusing any legitimacy for his repressive regime. Great Britain's Gordon Brown already announced that he will not come to the summit meeting if Mugabe were to come.

Birgitta Ohlsson in her debate article in Dagen Nyheter (Oct. 13, 2007) states that in the last Swedish elections, the expectation was high for the non-Socialist Alliance to distance itself from repressive dictatorial regimes. In its foreign policy statement, the Alliance said that, " it is necessary to have a more effective instrument against repressive regimes in many parts of the world. Statements of condemnation are not enough to express dissent against regimes such as Zimbabwe, Burma, Cuba and Sudan.It demands a steadfast strategy, where the spread of democracy and the rule of law are the goals. It also demands a united international action, as well as a regional move against repressive regimes."

It is not clear how Reinfeldt is going to face his biggest foreign policy challenge. Is he joining UK's Brown? Which EU members are following suit, is the main question just now. Mugabe has support from his neighbour- African states, so that some EU countries are playing a safe card. It is expected that Mugabe will attend the summit, hence his presence will overshadow more important issues.

A boycott of Mugabe at the EU-African Union summit will send a strong message even to neighbour states like Zambia and South Africa. Sweden and Europe must have a united position on democracy, the rule of law and human rights in all contacts with African states and other regions, the debate article states. And it is absolutely unacceptable to meet Mugabe with warm applause when he addresses the summit meeting. He should instead be arrested when he leaves his country and be made to face the international crime tribunal ICC for crimes against humanity.
(Source: Dagens Nyheter, Oct. 13, 2007)