Taken Question: U.S. Contact with Zimbabwean Embassy

Taken QuestionOffice of the Spokesman

Washington, DC
March 20, 2007  

 

Question Taken at the March 20 Daily Press Briefing  

Zimbabwe: U.S. Contact with Zimbabwean Embassy

Question: Have we had contact with the Zimbabwean Embassy here in Washington about the threats Zimbabwe has made against Western missions there?     

 

Answer:  The State Department Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield called in the Zimbabwean Ambassador accredited to the United States on March 16 to condemn the unacceptable behavior of his government and to demand that the Government of Zimbabwe respect the democratic rights of its citizens.  On March 19, the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister issued a threat to foreign diplomats to remain quiet or face being declared persona non grata.  The United States has not yet discussed this issue with the Zimbabwean Ambassador, but we and our Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christopher Dell, remain undeterred by the threat and will continue to speak and act steadfastly in support of the people of Zimbabwe's right to democracy.     

2007/212                                                                       

Released on March 20, 2007