Remarks at G-8 Foreign Ministers Press Conference Kyoto Japan June 27 2008

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Miliband

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter.) We shall now begin the joint press conference following the conclusion of the G-8 Foreign Ministers meeting a while ago. At the outset, the Chair of the G-8 Foreign Ministers meeting, this time Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, will deliver his opening remarks and will then like to entertain questions from you and would like to conclude this press conference in about half an hour and will appreciate your kind cooperation.

Minister Komura, please.

FOREIGN MINISTER KOMURA: (Via interpreter.) Last evening, today, for two days we had this G-8 Foreign Ministers meeting in Kyoto. And with the cooperation of foreign ministers of the participating countries, we were able to engage in a candid exchange of views on major regional issues that the international community today faces. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my colleagues who have very heartedly participated in that discussion.

Allow me at this time to share with you the major discussions and outcome of that meeting, as the Chair of the meeting.

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On Zimbabwe, we all shared serious concerns about the situation. In spite of absence of proper conditions for elections due to organized violence, obstructions and intimidation by the Zimbabwe authorities, we are gravely concerned that the government is still trying to go ahead today on the presidential runoff elections. We strongly seek the Government of Zimbabwe to fully cooperate with the international community, including the UN and AU, and that they reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe and resolve the crisis immediately and in a peaceful manner. For further details, please refer to the Chairman's statement.

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QUESTION: I have a question for Dr. Rice and Mr. Miliband about Zimbabwe. What is your reaction to the fact that the one-sided election has gone ahead today? And what steps, apart from sanctions, do you see as possibly resolving the situation?

FOREIGN SECRETARY MILIBAND: I think the first thing to say is that we had a very good discussion amongst all of the ministers. And none of us believe that the "election" today represents the sort of contest that can bring credit to any country. In my view, there is no legitimacy for the government claiming election on the basis of today's events, because this was an election which was one-sided in every aspect, one-sided in the brutality of the regime, one-sided in the publicity given to one side, one-sided in the electoral organization. So it's very clear on the part of the United Kingdom that there is no legitimacy for the Government of Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe. The only people with any shred of democratic legitimacy are those who won the March the 29th first round.

A second very important point, which I think is recognized by all the countries at this G-8 summit, the crisis in Zimbabwe, what Nelson Mandela has called as a tragic failure of leadership in Zimbabwe is a problem for the whole of South Africa, not just a problem for Zimbabwe, most notably because of the refugees. And therefore, I think it's very significant that so many African leaders from Mozambique, from Botswana, from Tanzania, from Zambia should have spoken out so loudly and so clearly against the Mugabe regime. And so the second point is that political support and the withdrawal of political support is very significant. Thirdly, you're right that there EU -- European Union sanctions in respect of 132 people surrounding Mr. Mugabe. Those are travel and financial sanctions. And the European Union Council last Friday agreed to take those sanctions further and faster.

The final point I would make is that I think the fact that this is now the subject of a UN Security Council presidential statement is very significant, a unanimous agreement from all the countries on the Security Council that the crisis in Zimbabwe is an international issue that deserves attention. And the language of condemnation in the presidential statement is something that I think is very important in trying to take away the last shreds of legitimacy that exist for the Mugabe regime. And we look forward to taking further - taking forward that debate at the UN.

SECRETARY RICE: Let me just underscore the point about legitimacy, the sham election that is going on, apparently, in Zimbabwe as we speak with the opposition largely, if not in hiding, in protective custody of various people. With the opposition followers having been intimidated and beat up, this kind of sham cannot possibly produce a legitimate outcome and that is the view of the United States. And we discussed this in great detail at our meeting today.

I might just note the United States will hold the chair of the presidency of the Security Council until July 1st and we will consult with the other members of the Security Council and other interested states, including African states that have spoken out about this, to see what next steps we might need to take in the Council.

This is an extract from the transcript of the press conference following meeting of G-8 foreign ministers in Kyoto Japan June 27 2008. Issued by the US Department of State.