Downing Street Says

» Monday, June 2, 2008

Mugabe

Put that some Labour MPs thought that there was an inconsistency with the position of the Prime Minister on Mugabe visiting the Rome Conference, and allowing Douglas Alexander to sit through the conference with Mugabe, the PMS replied that first of all tomorrow was an important meeting. Secondly this was a UN meeting and therefore we could not stop Mugabe from attending a UN meeting, he went to some UN meetings in New York which the British Government also attended. But the Prime Minister was not attending this meeting tomorrow, it was Douglas Alexander.

Put again that there was an inconsistency there, the PMS replied that we always had to make a judgement on these matters, and the Prime Minister took the view that it would not be right for him to attend the EU/Africa Summit last year if Mr Mugabe was attending. But on this occasion, giving that this was a UN meeting, and given the importance of the issues being discussed, in his view it was appropriate for Douglas Alexander to attend, but as Douglas Alexander had been saying himself today, he had no intention of engaging with Mr Mugabe.

Asked if this included sitting through Mugabe’s speech, the PMS replied that he was not sure exactly what the programme looked like for tomorrow.

Put that he was not therefore ruling out that Douglas Alexander could walk out of Mugabe’s speech, the PMS replied that it was probably best to speak to Mr Alexander’s Spokesman who could give a more detailed answer on exactly what the programme and arrangements were for tomorrow.

Asked if the Prime Minister would encourage Douglas Alexander to walk out during Mugabe’s speech, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister strongly shared the views that Douglas Alexander expressed this morning about Mr Mugabe’s general attendance at this meeting, and Mr Mugabe’s general position on the issue of food supplies.

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Mugabe

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