wfn.org | Archbishop of York Gives Cautious Welcome to Zimbabwe Deal

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>]

Archbishop of York Gives Cautious Welcome to Zimbabwe Deal

Posted On : September 15, 2008 5:31 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
Related Categories: England

ACNS: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2008/9/15/ACNS4520

The Archbishop of York has given a cautious welcome to the news of the
power sharing deal formally announced today in Zimbabwe between ZANU PF
and the Movement for Democratic Change.

Writing on his website the Archbishop of York commented:

"This is a step in the right direction on a path that will hopefully
lead to a full restoration of justice, democracy and a final end to the
brutal regime of Robert Mugabe.

There will be understandable caution amongst the international community
who will be concerned that any aid that follows today's announcement
will find its way to the poor of Zimbabwe and not to those who have
abused power over the past three decades.

Certainly the immediate concerns for many in Zimbabwe will be an end to
food shortages and the re-supply of medicine and medical equipment. In
Britain there will also be concern amongst those refugees from Zimbabwe
that the British Government will not be over hasty in using today's
announcement as the basis for any programme of enforced return. We must
wait to see how this deal works out in practice.

One of the pre-requisites for Zimbabwe's return to health will be the
application of justice in respect of the serious human right violations
and abuses that have been committed, not only in recent months but also
over the period of office of the Mugabe regime. Justice will require
truth, reconciliation and restoration. The path to justice will be long
and arduous, but I am praying that today marks a step in the right
direction."

> Ends

> Notes to Editors

The statement is available at http://www.archbishopofyork.org.uk/1967

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