Norway has decided to give NOK 40 million in humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe, after President Robert Mugabe from the Zanu-PF political party and the leader of the opposition party, Morgan Tsvangirai reached an agreement about sharing power in the country on September 11. Norway will channel this humanitarian aid through the UN and the Red Cross.
The EU and the USA announced earlier this week that they intend to continue the trade embargo until real democratic changes have been introduced in Zimbabwe.
-This is about saving lives, it’s not about giving money to Mugabe, foreign minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre says to VG Nett.
He feels that Norway is obliged to support the new Prime Minister of the country.
- It is crucial that Prime Minister Tsvangirai receives international support so he can address the humanitarian situation in the country.
Warns against doing it alone
The FRP’s (The Progress Party) shadow foreign minister, Morten Høglund warns against a Norwegian solo effort in Zimbabwe. He expects Norway to co-ordinates the humanitarian aid with other international aid organizations.
- It is not in Norway’s best interest to act alone in this case, Høglund says to VG Nett.
Høglund is not opposed in principle to give foreign aid to the country, but emphasizes that Zimbabwe still has a long way to go before it is a real democracy.
- The new political situation in Zimbabwe is a big step forward, but Mugabwe is still pulling most of the strings in the country he says.
Humanitarian aid
Jonas Gahr Støre says that the consequences of not sending aid to the country could lead to the suffering of innocent people. He is not concerned about Norway being the first western nation to give humanitarian aid to the country.
- I have been in touch with the other Nordic nations, and we’re keeping the UN informed about our decision, Støre says.
The Foreign Minister travels to New York on Sunday to address the issue at the UN humanitarian aid donor conference.
Source:VG Nett
The EU and the USA announced earlier this week that they intend to continue the trade embargo until real democratic changes have been introduced in Zimbabwe.
-This is about saving lives, it’s not about giving money to Mugabe, foreign minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre says to VG Nett.
He feels that Norway is obliged to support the new Prime Minister of the country.
- It is crucial that Prime Minister Tsvangirai receives international support so he can address the humanitarian situation in the country.
Warns against doing it alone
The FRP’s (The Progress Party) shadow foreign minister, Morten Høglund warns against a Norwegian solo effort in Zimbabwe. He expects Norway to co-ordinates the humanitarian aid with other international aid organizations.
- It is not in Norway’s best interest to act alone in this case, Høglund says to VG Nett.
Høglund is not opposed in principle to give foreign aid to the country, but emphasizes that Zimbabwe still has a long way to go before it is a real democracy.
- The new political situation in Zimbabwe is a big step forward, but Mugabwe is still pulling most of the strings in the country he says.
Humanitarian aid
Jonas Gahr Støre says that the consequences of not sending aid to the country could lead to the suffering of innocent people. He is not concerned about Norway being the first western nation to give humanitarian aid to the country.
- I have been in touch with the other Nordic nations, and we’re keeping the UN informed about our decision, Støre says.
The Foreign Minister travels to New York on Sunday to address the issue at the UN humanitarian aid donor conference.
Source:VG Nett
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