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Ioana
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How do you feel about Russia and China's veto on Zimbabwe sanctions?
July 12, 2008 - 06:19 PM
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How do you feel about that?
Britain’s diplomatic strategy in Zimbabwe collapsed last night in an historic defeat for the West in the UN Security Council that will have repercussions across Africa and beyond.
Russia and China wielded their veto to kill a resolution imposing UN sanctions on President Mugabe and his inner circle in a defining vote in the 15-nation council. (...)
“We have seen an effort to take the council beyond its charter prerogative,” Vitaly Churkin, the Russian Ambassador to the UN, declared. “We believe such practices to be illegitimate and dangerous, leading to a realignment of the UN system. This draft is nothing but the council’s attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of a member state.”
China, which supplies arms to Harare, said that the Zimbabwe crisis did not constitute a threat to international peace and security, over which the council had jurisdiction.
“Internationally, to use or threaten to use sanctions lightly is not conducive to solving a problem,” Wang Guangya, the Chinese Ambassador to the UN, said.
(taken from here)
I'm going to summarize the arguments brought in the article and in the comments to the article:
The pro-arguments:
- not letting the council, under the influence of Western members, to meddle in the internal affairs of a UN member state (one of the comments to this article was: The British and Imperialist Policies have been defeated.for sure now the Two Super Power will lean for the help of the European Union to destroy once and for all Zimbabwe, that stood tall against them. This is the Victory of democracy against the Exploitation of Africa.)
- the Zimbabwe crisis did not constitute a threat to international peace and security, over which the council had jurisdiction
- international sanctions are not effective, they just distance Zimbabwe further from the world
The against-arguments:
- This resolution would have supported the courageous efforts of the Zimbabwean people to change their lives peacefully through elections.
- sanctions were successful with Iran, Cuba, Iraq, Sudan
- China and Russia prefer to defend arms interests and their own shameful regimes instead of helping to create peace
- China and Russia support Mugabe, because they want the country's resources
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Always Colin
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Re: How do you feel about Russia and China's veto on Zimbabwe sanctions?
July 12, 2008 - 11:34 PM
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I believe that one of the pro arguments could be disputed.
While yes, the security council is not right on acting based upon the premise that global security is a risk, there is another criteria that it can act upon: Human Rights.
Hundreds of opposition supporters are being mistreated, fleeing the country, seeking refuge, and frightened for their lives. This constitutes a human rights issue that the UN as a globally governing body has the power to exercise.
I do not believe China or Russia quite understands this and may be to two reasons: Firstly, they both have pretty lax human rights legislation to begin with. Second, there might be stragetic or political reasons for exercising their veto.
Both countries have a history of vetoing important UN initiatives (as do the US), but countries have acted without the UN consent before.
Good post 
This post was edited on: 2008-07-12 at 11:35 PM by: Corcoran
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davyk
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Re: How do you feel about Russia and China's veto on Zimbabwe sanctions?
July 14, 2008 - 06:56 AM
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I think that this was the best decision the SC has ever made.
Agree a dispute election does not pose an threat to international peace and security. The way that the US reacted to this will only show you that there is more to this than an election dispute.A bilateral dispute between Zimbabwe can not be a threat to the world.
I like the response of Russia. Russia condemned the move, saying it was an attempt to take the Security Council beyond its mandate of maintaining international peace and security.
It noted that such "illegitimate and dangerous attempts" could unbalance the whole UN system, adding that the problems in Zimbabwe could not be solved by the imposition of sanctions.
What the point of the SC to go beond its mandate to please and fulfill the agenda of a former colonial master who still think he has every right to continue suppressing us? and lotting our resources?
Elections in Iraq were held under "gun point" Bhutto was killed in pakistan but were they ever tabled in the SC? and sanctioned?There was a dispute in the US itself when Bush stole the presidency from Al Gore and did the US taken to the SC?
We have seen some elections which were held under worse conditions than Zimbabwe and we have never seen the on the SC agenda.
It leaves me to ask a question "why zimbabwe?" "whats so special about our situation"
There is more than what meets the eye
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davyk
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Re: How do you feel about Russia and China's veto on Zimbabwe sanctions?
July 14, 2008 - 07:26 AM
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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.
http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/ARTICLE/2921/2008-07-12.html
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