MUGABE TO BE INVITED TO EU SUMMIT !
Robert Mugabe has been banned from the EU since 2002. Portugal is planning to invite Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to a European Union summit in December - but is hoping that he will not attend.
Mr Mugabe and other Zimbabwean leaders are banned from the EU, but plans to hold an EU-Africa summit in Lisbon could collapse unless he is asked.
The plan to send an invitation has been branded a "disgrace" by a British MEP.
But Portugal says the EU has paid a price for failing to hold a summit with Africa for the last seven years.
Lisbon regards the summit as one of the key priorities of its six-month presidency of the European Union, which began on Sunday.
'Terrible signal'
British Conservative MEP Neil Parish said the invitation was a "disgrace" and should be revoked.
We will not be disappointed if he doesn't turn up
EU diplomat"The Portuguese presidency is sending out a terrible signal that we are prepared to do business with dictators."
BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell says Mr Mugabe has not yet been invited to the summit - but nor has anyone else.
He quotes a senior diplomat as saying: "We will not be disappointed if he doesn't turn up."
The EU travel ban was imposed on Mr Mugabe and more than 90 senior members of his ruling Zanu-PF party in 2002, after what the EU said was a rigged election.
However, Mr Mugabe was allowed to visit France for a Franco-African summit the following year.
Courtesy
Portugal says having proper relations with Africa is a priority for the European Union -BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell
Read Mark's thoughts in full
Mr Mugabe and other Zimbabwean leaders are banned from the EU, but plans to hold an EU-Africa summit in Lisbon could collapse unless he is asked.
The plan to send an invitation has been branded a "disgrace" by a British MEP.
But Portugal says the EU has paid a price for failing to hold a summit with Africa for the last seven years.
Lisbon regards the summit as one of the key priorities of its six-month presidency of the European Union, which began on Sunday.
'Terrible signal'
British Conservative MEP Neil Parish said the invitation was a "disgrace" and should be revoked.
We will not be disappointed if he doesn't turn up
EU diplomat"The Portuguese presidency is sending out a terrible signal that we are prepared to do business with dictators."
BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell says Mr Mugabe has not yet been invited to the summit - but nor has anyone else.
He quotes a senior diplomat as saying: "We will not be disappointed if he doesn't turn up."
The EU travel ban was imposed on Mr Mugabe and more than 90 senior members of his ruling Zanu-PF party in 2002, after what the EU said was a rigged election.
However, Mr Mugabe was allowed to visit France for a Franco-African summit the following year.
Courtesy
Portugal says having proper relations with Africa is a priority for the European Union -BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell
Read Mark's thoughts in full
The African Union is reported to be insisting that the Zimbabwean leader should receive the same courtesy as all other African leaders, if the EU-Africa summit is to go ahead.
The vice-chairman of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, said the idea was that the African Union would formally invite Mr Mugabe.
But he added: "We hope he will be clever enough not to come, and that other African Union countries will help us to achieve that objective."
The vice-chairman of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, said the idea was that the African Union would formally invite Mr Mugabe.
But he added: "We hope he will be clever enough not to come, and that other African Union countries will help us to achieve that objective."
BBC NEWS REPORT
Labels: EU Portugal Lisbon Mugabe Summit Banned Leaders Africa
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