European Union foreign ministers have agreed to send a "clear and tough" message to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe if he decides to attend the EU-Africa summit meeting in Portugal next month, as he is expected to.
Meeting during their monthly General Affairs Council in Brussels, several EU foreign ministers, particularly those of Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden, took the floor to stress the necessity of denouncing at the summit the grave human rights violations in Zimbabwe and of doing so in a "direct and unambiguous" language if President Mugabe is personally present in Lisbon, as he has said he would be.
The Portuguese presidency took up this demand and said it will be delivering a clear message to the Zimbabwean President.
Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado said: "If Mr Mugabe participates in the summit, which we hope he will not, the EU's message will be even more tough and clear".
According to diplomats, the 27 member states also agreed to look into creating a post of special EU envoy to Zimbabwe. The envoy would be charged with travelling to the country to report on the situation there before the summit in December, without, however, getting involved in the country's internal affairs, diplomats stressed.
Although some EU member states, led by the UK, are lobbying against Mr Mugabe attending the summit, diplomats said it is highly unlikely that Mr Mugabe will decide not to attend.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already declared he will not attend the summit if Mr Mugabe is present.
Malta has not taken a position on the issue and is expected to be represented at the summit by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
The issue of Mr Mugabe attending the summit is being considered as quite delicate within EU circles as many African leaders are threatening to boycott the summit if Mr Mugabe is not allowed to attend.
Mr Mugabe, 83, and 130 of his regime acolytes are barred from travelling to Europe by the EU.
Presidency sources told The Times the most likely scenario is that Mr Mugabe will attend the meeting.
Zimbabwe is suspended from the Commonwealth.