Proposed UN Sanctions On Zimbabwe Shot Down At Security Council

Russia and China have vetoed the Western-backed UN Security Council resolution designed to impose sanctions on the Zimbabwe as a result of the recent violent presidential election. The sanctions would have imposed an arms embargo on the southern African country and financial and travel restrictions on President Robert Mugabe and 13 other officials.

Mugabe called the failure of the sanctions resolution a victory over racism and a defeat to attempts at meddling in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told Reuters that 'we are very happy with the turn of events and would like to thank those who helped defeat international racism disguised as multilateral action at the UN'.

Britain called the decision by Russia to veto the resolution as 'incomprehensible', which was a u-turn from the promise it had made at G8 summit and calls into doubt the position of Russia within the group. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that 'an adoption of such a document by the U.N. Security Council would have created a dangerous precedent, opening the way for interference by the Security Council in internal affairs in connection with certain political events including elections, which is a gross violation of the U.N. Charter'

The fate of the resolution has once again demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the UN Security Council. With Russia and China preferring less scrutiny of their own elections it makes sense to ensure that this resolution fails. The missile defence treaty signed by the US with the Czech Republic on Wednesday led to strong criticism from Russia and their veto may have been used as a protest to perceived US hostility.