Fed: Howard denies going in too hard on Zimbabwe

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2003
Fed: Howard denies going in too hard on Zimbabwe

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says he did the right thing by successfully pushing for
Zimbabwe's continued suspension from the Commonwealth.

The Zimbabwe government quit the Commonwealth yesterday after being told it wouldn't
be re-admitted until it had improved its human rights record.

Nigerian president OLUSEGUN OBASANJO later accused Mr HOWARD of taking a hardline stance
which had caused acrimonious divisions within the 54-nation body.

Mr HOWARD says that while it's regrettable that Zimbabwe has pulled out of the Commonwealth,
he doesn't believe he went in too hard on the issue.

He's told ABC radio that if the Commonwealth had lifted the suspension, the values
it's meant to stand for would have been seen as wasted and irrelevant.

But he says there'll be a renewed effort to encourage progress in Zimbabwe so it can
rejoin the Commonwealth in the future.

AAP RTV pj/jmt

KEYWORD: CHOGM HOWARD (CANBERRA) WITH AUDIO

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