Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Hmm, smells like frog legs!
I'm running out of aphorisms for Euroweenies of the French persuasion. Check out Silence at No 10 as France welcomes Mugabe:
Tony Blair held back from attacking France last night as it prepared to invite President Mugabe of Zimbabwe to a summit in Paris.

Downing Street remained silent on the proposed visit, apparently to avoid a new row with France that could jeopardise both international consensus on war with Iraq and the renewal of European sanctions against Zimbabwe ? which include a travel ban on the country’s rulers.

EU foreign ministers will decide on Monday whether to renew the sanctions, which expire on February 18, the day before the Franco-African summit is due to start in Paris.

President Chirac wants Mr Mugabe to attend, and a formal invitation has been prepared. If the sanctions were not renewed there would be no problem, but most EU countries want them extended for another year. The price of French agreement appears to be allowing an exemption to be made for the summit.
...
Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, was clearly unaware of the diplomatic horse-trading when she was asked about the possible invitation. It would be disgraceful, she told MPs. But Downing Street was in no mood to match her language. "This is a live issue. There’s been no formal proposal yet from the French Government and I’m not going to pre-empt our Government’s position," Mr Blair’s spokesman said.
...
M Chirac’s spokesman refused to comment, but it is clear that France plans to use the summit to try to extend its influence across Africa.
Being the bosom pal of Bobby Mugabe must seem like a swell idea when you are completely clueless.