Development Minister Bert Koenders says the Netherlands will for the time being not give any additional aid to Zimbabwe.

Mr Koenders made his remarks after a meeting with Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is on a two-day visit to the Netherlands. The development minister said the Zimbabwean government should first do more to improve the situation regarding human rights and press freedom. However, the Netherlands will continue to give emergency aid to Zimbabwe. The United Nations says Zimbabwe needs at least half a billion euros to prevent famine among six million of its citizens.

On Monday, Mr Tsvangirai will meet Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen before travelling on to the United Kingdom for a meeting with President Barack Obama.