.. countries pretend their foreign policy is based on democratisation when this is clearly not the case. For all the challenges in Zimbabwe, for example, it is a bit of a stretch to say it is less democratic than some of the sheikhdoms of the Gulf. But none of the sheikdoms has a problem visiting Europe.

Meles Zenawi's response about European sanctions and travel ban on Zimbabwe's Mugabe, as quoted in Simon Tisdall, "To Ipmose Democracy from Outside is inherently Undemocratic", The Guardian, 25 January, 2008.