A German firm says it hasstopped supplying banknote paper to Zimbabwe because of the political crisisthere.

HeikoWitzke is a spokesman for Giesecke and Devrient. From Munich, he spoketo VOA English to Africa Service reporter Joe De Capua about why the sales werestopped.

"Gieseckeand Devrient has decided to cease delivering banknote paper to the reserve bankof Zimbabwe with immediate effect. And we've taken this step in response to anofficial request from the German government and call for internationalsanctions by the European Union and the United Nations," he says.

Witzkedeclined comment on the size of the firm's contract with Zimbabwe or whetherthere had been discussions with the German government about Zimbabwe.

"Wecannot publicly comment on any questions about individual clientrelationships…. You have to understand that supplying banknotes is a sovereigntask and there are certain rules, which are set by the World Bank. And one ofthese rules is that banknote providers and central banks are required to keeptheir activities highly confidential. And as such, we cannot publicly commenton any questions about individual client relationships," he says. (English to Africa 7/2)