Statement Ministry for Foreign Affairs 25 April 2008
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Carl Bildt condemns the violence in Zimbabwe

- The situation in Zimbabwe runs the risk of spiralling out of control. I am deeply concerned about the current crisis. Friday's police attacks against the opposition's headquarters and against the respected independent organisation ZESN (Zimbabwe Election Support Network) that monitored the election are yet another setback for democracy in Zimbabwe.

- It is unacceptable that almost four weeks have passed and the result of the presidential election has still not been announced. This major delay and the non-transparent way in which the votes have been counted raises questions about the credibility of the election process. We question the Zimbabwean government's will to respect the voice of the people. The goal must be a government that has a democratic mandate and that is reform-oriented.

- The politically motivated violence and harassment that is being directed against members of the civil opposition in Zimbabwe must cease. These serious developments could - as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pointed out - affect democracy's credibility throughout Africa.

- Zimbabwe's neighbours in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have a responsibility to step up their efforts to reach a solution. It is also essential that the African Union now take on a key role to do right by the people of Zimbabwe and by Zimbabwean democracy.

- Following talks with the Nordic foreign ministers in Stockholm last week, Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg spoke for all of the Nordic governments when he passed on a message about the crisis in Zimbabwe to leaders in southern Africa during his visit to Africa. The Nordic countries have strong and trusting relations with the countries of that region. These relations are important in our future dialogue. Similarly, I will speak at the EU foreign ministers' meeting on Tuesday in favour of continuing strong international commitment, says Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt in a statement.