Malaysia welcomes Mugabe
2007-08-06 10:14
Langkawi - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, internationally condemned for his nation's economic meltdown and human rights abuses, was given a warm welcome on Monday at an anti-poverty summit in Malaysia, said delegates.
While he had proved elusive to the packs of journalists and photographers staking out the venue, he was said to be actively taking part in round-table discussions with other African and Southeast Asian leaders.
Delegates warmly welcomed Mugabe to the three-day conference, known as the Langkawi International Dialogue, which had stirred some controversy because of his presence.
A Malaysian delegate said: "Mugabe is actually participating in all the events" and had been "hugged and kissed" by some participants.
The delegate, who didn't want to be identified, added that "other people had expressed unhappiness with Mugabe, but not at this conference."
African leaders 'know each other'
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said participants should focus on sharing experiences rather than politics. He said: "I think you have to look at the positive side. There are a lot of lessons to be learned.
"We must not give in to political inputs to everything we do."
Asked whether there had been a negative reaction to the Zimbabwean leader, he said: "There is no problem. African leaders know each other well."
The dialogue, launched in 1995 by former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, was aimed at fostering closer ties between Southeast Asia and the poor, but resource-rich Africa.
This year's theme was focused on poverty alleviation, with Malaysia sharing its experiences in transforming itself from a struggling economy in the 1970s to a prosperous one.
Mugabe, on the other hand, was accused of leading his country to ruin since independence in 1979, with inflation now running at more than 3 700%.
Renowned for his fiery rhetoric against the West and former colonial ruler, Britain, he had been condemned by critics worldwide as a tyrant whose rule was marked by violence, intimidation and fraud.
- AFP