European Knight
05-30-2015, 11:21 AM
http://www.voanews.com/content/united-states-sanctions-zimbabwe/2798784.html
The United States says it will keep in place targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe imposed more than a decade ago.
Shannon Smith, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told VOA's Zimbabwe service after a recent trip to the country that the United States was sticking to its wait-and-see strategy regarding the possible lifting of travel bans and other sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his leadership. She noted that the sanctions were "very targeted."
"The U.S. sanctions are aimed at fewer than 200 individuals and institutions in Zimbabwe, in a nation of over 13 million people," Smith said.
Smith said the Untied States did not feel pressured to change its policy by the European Union's decision last year to lift a visa ban and assets freeze against members of Zimbabwe's ruling elite, with the exception of Mugabe and his wife, Grace.
"We don't feel pressured. The European Union obviously makes its own policy choices. We continue to share with them the same fundamental goals of seeing a freer, democratic Zimbabwe that adheres to the rule of law and other standards," Smith said.
She also said the targeted U.S. sanctions were not the cause of Zimbabwe's economic decline.
The United States says it will keep in place targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe imposed more than a decade ago.
Shannon Smith, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told VOA's Zimbabwe service after a recent trip to the country that the United States was sticking to its wait-and-see strategy regarding the possible lifting of travel bans and other sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his leadership. She noted that the sanctions were "very targeted."
"The U.S. sanctions are aimed at fewer than 200 individuals and institutions in Zimbabwe, in a nation of over 13 million people," Smith said.
Smith said the Untied States did not feel pressured to change its policy by the European Union's decision last year to lift a visa ban and assets freeze against members of Zimbabwe's ruling elite, with the exception of Mugabe and his wife, Grace.
"We don't feel pressured. The European Union obviously makes its own policy choices. We continue to share with them the same fundamental goals of seeing a freer, democratic Zimbabwe that adheres to the rule of law and other standards," Smith said.
She also said the targeted U.S. sanctions were not the cause of Zimbabwe's economic decline.