Britain to Avoid Confrontation with Zimbabwe at Earth Summit

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 26, 2002

Britain to Avoid Confrontation with Zimbabwe at Earth Summit

Britain said on Sunday it would not let its row with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe overshadow the real business of this week's Earth Summit held in the South African city of Johannesburg.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Britain said on Sunday it would not let its row with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe overshadow the real business of this week's Earth Summit held in the South African city of Johannesburg.

"The most important and crucial thing is to make sure that the summit is not dominated by the issue of Robert Mugabe," Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett told BBC Television.

She denied that a fleeting appearance at the summit by British Prime Minister Tony Blair indicated a lack of engagement.

"There is nothing President Mugabe would like better than to think a whole world summit has been hijacked by his behavior and his concerns. The summit is too important for that," she said.

It was reported that Zimbabwe's official Sunday Mail newspaper said on Sunday that Mugabe would attend the Earth Summit and was ready to confront Blair and other critics there.

The paper accused Britain of coordinating a Western onslaught on Mugabe, and working with international media and white farmers to try to make Zimbabwe's controversial land reform program the focus of the world summit.

President Mugabe has been under very serious attack in Britain, after he introduced a series of land reform policy in his country and forced many white farmers to share or give up their farmland to the local black people.

Blair was also accused of being too moderate to Mugabe and his government.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Britain Freezes Assets of Zimbabwe's Ruling Party

Roundup: Land Redistribution, Milestone in Zimbabwean History

>> Full Coverage

China's Exports Hit Record of US$56.2 Billion in July ( 36 Messages)

China's On-going Reform Calls for Better Economic Illumination ( 31 Messages)

Fourth Unmanned Spaceship Set to Roar by Yearend ( 46 Messages)

FM Spokesman Rejects Al-Qaida Contacts Allegation ( 48 Messages)

Commentary: Taiwan Independence No Easy Thing ( 57 Messages)