China Urged To Change Its Approach On Tibet Negotiations  [Thursday, 11 March 2010, 8:57 a.m.]

Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European Parliament

Dharamshala:
At the opening of this week’s Strasbourg plenary session, European
Parliament President Jerzy Buzek appealed to the Chinese leadership to
change its approach and to resume the dialogue with the representatives
of the Dalai Lama.  “The 10th of March is the 51st anniversary
of the peoples uprising in Tibet. Together with 80’000 followers, the
Dalai Lama had been forced to flee the country. We always hope and
continuously appeal to the Chinese leadership, to change its approach
and to resume the dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama,”
Mr Jerzy Buzek said.  On the occasion of the International
Tibet Memorial Day, 10 March, hundreds of MEPs placed Tibetan flags on
their desks during the plenary session at Strasbourg. MEPs applauded
the speech by the Chairman of the EP Human Rights Committee concerning
the current situation in Tibet. The organiser of the ‘Flag
Campaign’, the Chairman of the Tibet Intergroup of the EP, Thomas Mann
MEP, said: “10 March is a day of mourning. It is also a day of
solidarity and of resistance against the silencing of thoughts and
speech, against the violation of human rights and the oppression of
cultural and religious identity. Today, everywhere in the world,
Tibetan flags are being hoisted on official buildings. Every year,
thousands of cities and communities in the EU take part in this event.
MEPs sent a strong signal today of solidarity with the Tibetan people.”

Tibetan Flags in Plenary: Hundreds of MEPs gave important signal!

Underscoring
the necessity of helping the Tibetans with all their might in order to
break through the diplomatic dead ends, Mr Thoman Mann said: “In
numerous EP Resolutions, we have demanded the unconditional
continuation of constructive dialogue between the Chinese leadership
and the Dalai Lama. In February 2010, the ninth round of talks with the
Tibetans ended without progress. Despite all official Tibetan
declarations, China sees its unity and sovereignty in great danger. The
demonisation of His Holiness does not cease. But in China, however,
there are not only hardliners and nationalists. The EU has to support
all approaches inside China which respect the territorial integrity of
the State and at the same time ensure the cultural and religious
identity of the Tibetan people. During His Holiness’ visit to the US in
February, President Barack Obama clearly supported and acknowledged
this middle way approach of His Holiness.”

Mr Thomas Mann, the Chairman of the Tibet Intergroup of the EP, at the plenary session

More
than 110 MEPs from across the political spectrum are Members of the
Tibet Intergroup. Its existence in the EP goes back to 1989. “We will
also put our efforts into a constructive dialogue and cooperation
between the Chinese and Tibetan people during this legislative term”,
said Mr Mann.