[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 26 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Page 926]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Situation in Zimbabwe

June 28, 2008

    On Friday, the Mugabe regime held a sham election that ignored the 
will of the people of Zimbabwe. The international community has 
condemned the Mugabe regime's ruthless campaign of politically motivated 
violence and intimidation with a strong and unified voice that makes 
clear that yesterday's election was in no way free and fair. Any 
legitimate Government of Zimbabwe must represent the interests of all 
its citizens and the outcome of the March 29 elections.
    Given the Mugabe regime's blatant disregard for the Zimbabwean 
people's democratic will and human rights, I am instructing the 
Secretaries of State and Treasury to develop sanctions against this 
illegitimate Government of Zimbabwe and those who support it. We will 
press for strong action by the United Nations, including an arms embargo 
on Zimbabwe and travel ban on regime officials. We will continue to work 
closely with the African Union, Southern African Development Community, 
and other world leaders to resolve this crisis.
    The United States stands ready to support a legitimate government 
through a robust package of development assistance, debt relief, and 
normalization with international financial institutions. In the 
meantime, we will continue to support the people of Zimbabwe by 
providing food assistance to more than 1 million people and AIDS 
treatment to more than 40,000 people.

Note: The statement referred to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.