WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2001-09-08 Time: 01:40:18 Posted By: Jan
By GLENN McKENZIE, Associated Press
ABUJA, Nigeria
(September 6, 2001 11:24 p.m. EDT ) – Zimbabwe representatives agreed to
at least part of a major land-reform plan Thursday as Britain and other
Commonwealth nations sought to end more than a year of violent conflicts over
white-owned farms in the southern African nation.
Crisis talks on Zimbabwe’s land conflicts by Cabinet ministers of Britain and
its former colonies broke late Thursday with no formal announcement of a
deal, and it was not clear whether there was work yet to be done.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters that a communique would
be issued by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government on Friday but
declined to give specifics.
“It is not for me to judge if this is a breakthrough,” Straw said, amid much
talk that there was one. “Ultimately what we have written on paper is not
important … it depends on how events unfold (in Zimbabwe).”
The government ministers said the deal would have Britain and other countries
compensating white farmers for land taken to be turned over to poor black
farmers.
Zimbabwe in return would agree to political and other reforms, including
allowing in human rights monitors and election monitors, the ministers said
on condition of anonymity.
The British Broadcasting Corp. reported that the accord also would commit
Zimbabwe to no further occupations of land, restoration of the rule of law
and a commitment to freedom of expression – all major concessions in the
country’s political turmoil.
Across Zimbabwe, ruling party militants have occupied more than 1,700
white-owned farms since March 2000, spurred by a government campaign to seize
4,600 farms owned by whites and give the land to blacks.
The targeted farms make up about 95 percent of the land owned by whites.
At least nine white farmers and dozens of opposition supporters have died in
political violence since June.
Zimbabwe Land Minister Joseph Made confirmed late Thursday an agreement had
been reached including “land acquisition” reforms, but wouldn’t elaborate.
Asked if it entailed an end to violence, Made said, “Don’t ask me if the
violence will continue. I haven’t perpetrated violence any more than you
have.”
The talks came with Zimbabwe under increasing international pressure over the
land seizures.
The European Parliament on Thursday urged European Union governments to
impose their own sanctions on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe for policies
that legislators said had created “a climate of fear and despair” in his
country.
The 626-member EU assembly urged the 15 member states to freeze bank accounts
held by Mugabe, his family and close associates, ban travel by him to their
countries, and consider suspension of financial aid to Zimbabwe.
Lawmakers in the United States have also debated imposing sanctions on
Zimbabwe, while the African Union has come out in favor of Zimbabwe’s
government.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Sule Lamido had opened the talks by telling all
parties to be “frank and open-minded” in the effort to settle Zimbabwe’s land
disputes, saying an agreement was necessary to restore law and order and
revive Zimbabwe’s declining economy.
“Africa cannot afford another war, not least a racial war or one with racial
undertones,” Lamido said, delivering a message to Zimbabwe in markedly blunt
terms. “The signals coming from the crisis in Zimbabwe cannot and should not
be ignored.”
Any agreement must address the fears of Zimbabwe’s white farmers as well as
those of international business people, and protect the “lives and properties
of all Zimbabweans,” Lamido said.
Britain’s Conservative Party had suggested Zimbabwe’s suspension from the
Commonwealth might be considered in the day’s talks. Jamaica Attorney General
A.J. Nicholson said that had been ruled out, however.
Cabinet members from the former British colonies of Australia, Canada,
Jamaica, Kenya, South Africa were attending the talks.