Statement by Sir John Sawers, UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the vetoing of Security Council Resolution on Zimbabwe, 11 July 2008

Deputy Secretary-General Migiro told the Security Council three days ago that the situation in Zimbabwe was a challenge to the world. And today the Security Council has failed to rise to that challenge. 

Ms Migiro said this was a "moment of truth for democracy in Africa". The Security Council has failed to shoulder its responsibility to do what it can to prevent a national tragedy deepening, and spreading its effects across Southern Africa. 

I would like to be very clear about the Resolution we have just voted on - a Resolution sponsored by a range of countries, including African countries. It has been widely misrepresented by some members of this Council and by the Representative of Zimbabwe just now.

This Resolution did not represent a new judgement by the Security Council on the recent elections in Zimbabwe. The Council - unanimously - made that judgement on 23 June through its Presidential statement. Our collective assessment was that free and fair elections were impossible under the prevailing conditions of a campaign of violence against the political opposition and the denial of the opposition's right to campaign freely. Regrettably, that proved to be the case when President Mugabe went ahead anyway. The local and regional observers, and many African leaders, made clear the outcome was not free and fair, and could not be considered legitimate. We also agreed on 23 June that the results of the 29 March elections must be respected.

Second, Mr President, the Resolution was not an attempt to undermine ongoing mediation efforts. Precisely the opposite. The Resolution would have required the Government of Zimbabwe to engage with those efforts. And it would have put some countervailing pressure on the ruling regime, to balance the appalling pressure and intimidation that they continue to exert on the political opposition. We have supported President Mbeki's mediation efforts. But we have to be realistic. Those efforts have so far come to nought. The only one who has benefited to date is Mr Mugabe. 

Thirdly, this Resolution was not a foray into the internal affairs of an African country. The Security Council has often determined - for example in Sierra Leone, Sudan and Somalia - that political instability and violence in one country has consequences for wider peace and stability, requiring the Council to act. That remains true in Zimbabwe today. The African Union has already acknowledged in its Resolution of 1 July the risk that the conflict in Zimbabwe may spread across the sub-region.  

Mr President, we should reflect on the opportunities we have lost today: 

we have missed the opportunity to impose a legal obligation on Mr Mugabe's Government to end the violence and intimidation which have scarred Zimbabwe, made normal politics impossible and which is de-stabilising the region: the millions of refugees, a quarter of Zimbabwe's population, is a stark demonstration of this;

we have missed the opportunity to strengthen the mediation efforts, giving them the full weight of the international community by the addition of a United Nations envoy. We look to the Secretary General to appoint such an envoy anyway, on his own authority;

we have missed the opportunity to back up South Africa's mediation efforts with something more than words. That is why the Resolution included carefully targeted sanctions, aimed at those who have brought about the current crisis, with a clear message that they would be lifted once an inclusive political settlement is reached;

and finally, we have lost an opportunity to impose an arms embargo. The last thing Zimbabwe needs now is more arms. We hope the Governments and civil society in Southern Africa will continue to ensure that arms do not get through to the Mugabe Government.

Mr President,

This Resolution only failed because it has been vetoed by the Russian Federation and China. Russia's action is, frankly, inexplicable. Only three days ago, the meeting of G8 leaders, which of course includes President Medvedev of Russia, adopted a statement on Zimbabwe that recommended the appointment of a UN special envoy, and went on to say, and I quote "we will take further steps, inter alia introducing financial and other measures against those individuals responsible for violence".

The draft Resolution that Russia and China have just vetoed was precisely to implement those two decisions. We view their decisions as deeply damaging to the long-term interests of Zimbabwe's people. It has, in our view, harmed the prospects for bringing to an early end the violence and the oppression in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe faces not only a political crisis. It also faces a grave humanitarian crisis, for which the Government of Zimbabwe bears full responsibility. The Zimbabwean authorities have ignored every single appeal for the restrictions on humanitarian supplies to be lifted. Again, the Council failed today by vetoing this Resolution to require Mr Mugabe's Government to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered. 

Mr President,

Many times during our discussions of this issue, Council members have said that the people of Zimbabwe must be allowed to find their own way forward. Of course they must. That is what they tried to do when they voted on 29 March. We must respect the outcome of the elections on that day.

If we are not to see more violence, more economic chaos, more refugees, and a greater threat to regional peace and stability, then we - the international community - have to do what we can to create the conditions for a real political process which stands some chance of success. At present, such a process does not exist.

With the vetoing of this Resolution, we now need to look for a new way forward. We will discuss this with our partners in Europe, with our friends in the African Union and across the world. The people of Zimbabwe need to be given hope that there is an end in sight to their suffering. The Security Council today has failed to offer them that hope.

Thank you Mr President.

Statement issued by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, July 12 2008