Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter

THE European Union has expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Global

Political Agreement by parties in the inclusive Government.

The High Representative for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Lady Catherine Ashton met a

Zimbabwean delegation in Brussels, Belgium, for re-engagement talks on Thursday.

The implementation of the GPA, a purely Zimbabwean affair guaranteed by Sadc, has of late been cited by the EU as a reason for maintaining the sanctions regime despite the fact that the GPA was signed on September 15 2008, a whole six years after the imposition of EU sanctions.

Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma led the team.
Other members of the delegation were Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Regional Integration and International Co-operation Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mu-shonga.
EU representative to Zimbabwe Mr Aldo Dell”Ariccia told journalists in Harare yesterday that the European bloc was satisfied with what parties to the inclusive Government were doing in implementing the GPA.
In a statement issued after the Brussels meeting, Lady Ashton, also said the re-engagement discussion was a constructive step in the process in which the EU was committed.

“The EU recognised the progress to date and encouraged the reform process to continue in the same positive direction, allowing progress towards normalisation of relations,” said Lady Ashton.
She said it was agreed that Zimbabwe will follow up the meeting with a letter setting out their case, which the EU side will consider before the end of July.
It was agreed that both sides will keep in touch in the coming months.

“The EU will remain actively enga-ged in supporting people of Zimbabwe,” she said.
Yesterday, Mr Dell” Ariccia said the EU was optimistic that the relations will be normalised.
“There are good reasons to be optimistic . . . what we have taken note, thanks to the presentation by the three ministers, there has been significant progress,” said Mr Dell” Ariccia.

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He said the meeting was not a decision-making forum, but was used to start a process that will lead to a decision.
In making the decision, he said, the EU will also be guided by Sadc.
“Sadc is a precious source of information, particularly South Africa. We acknowledge and admire the role that Sadc and South Africa is playing, we encourage them to continue,” he said.

The EU, said the diplomat, had also been encouraged by comments made by Minister Chinamasa in the media regarding the talks.
Minister Chinamasa was on Thursday quoted as saying the meeting was candid and was held under a cordial atmosphere.

During the Press conference, Mr Dell” Acriccia, however, declined to use the word “sanctions” preferring to use the word “restrictive measures” arguing that there will be no trade when a country is under sanctions.
Asked if in his view, the sanctions have helped the Western bloc to achieve its objectives, Mr Dell”Ariccia said the measures they had taken had indeed had an impact.

“The simple fact that the Government of national unity had some Ministers at the EU headquarters has shown that they had an impact. That’s logical. The Ministers were very firm that they (sanctions) should be removed, meaning the measures had an impact,” he said.
Mr Dell” Ariccia said the Brussels meeting had been held despite some people who have been pessimistic about the commitment of the Western bloc to the dialogue.

This time the trip to Brussels by the re-engagement team was smooth and Minister Chinamasa was not detained by immigration officials.
Last time Minister Chinamasa was detained for over 10 hours at Frankfurt International Airport by immigration officials despite having an EU Visa.