Visiting Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and leaders of the European Union Thursday held their first official talks between the two sides here since 2002 for normalizing their relations.
"The opening of the political dialogue today is an important step. This dialogue will be conducted in accordance with the principles of the equality of sovereign states," Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, told reporters following the talks also joined by Louis Michel, European commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2002, the EU imposed sanctions against the African country, including an arms embargo, visa bans and asset freezes on senior officials and companies citing human rights abuses after President Robert Mugabe implemented a land reform policy.
Earlier this year, the EU decided to tighten sanctions on Zimbabwean government by extending and expanding the lists of people and firms banned in the EU when the African nation was in an election crisis.
International community has urged to lift the sanctions after Tsvangirai and his rival President Mugabe formed a power-sharing government in February.
"The EU wants to be a helpful partner to Zimbabwe," Solana said, expressing his support for Tsvangirai. "We trust the leadership of Prime Minister Tsvangirai who will be our partner in this dialogue. "
Also speaking at the press conference after the talks, Michel stressed the EU's commitment to help Zimbabwe, saying that the meeting is "very constructive."
"Today's meeting lays the foundation for a renewed relationship between the European Union and Zimbabwe," he said.
Asked about the amount of aid pledged for his country, Tsvangirai noted that the strategy of his government is to achieve a normalized long-term relationship, expressing his satisfaction with the meeting. "I am actually encouraged by the level of positive support and indicators that have been given to us," he added.
Michel said that the EU donates some 90 million euros (about 125.28 million U.S. dollars) annually to Zimbabwe through non- governmental organizations despite the sanctions, and it will offer an aid of 20 million euros to the country later this year, and another 9 million euros in food aid. (1 U.S. dollar = 0.7184 euros).