EU- China Statement Misses Out On Tibet
Dharamsala, 31 October 2003: The joint press statement issued after the conclusion of the Sixth EU-China Summit held in Beijing yesterday has failed to refer to the human rights situation in Tibet. The joint statement while raising human rights said, “The two sides welcomed the achievements of their human rights dialogue and agreed to continue their ongoing dialogue on human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect and reconfirmed their commitment to work towards achieving more meaningful and positive results on the ground.”
The statement also underlined “their respect for international human rights standards provided for in relevant international human rights instruments and to cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms. They also noted the importance of the International Criminal Court in the global fight against genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Furthermore, leaders confirmed their commitment to further enhance cooperation in the field of human rights.”
On 28 October, Amnesty International, after releasing a new report on human rights situation in China, said: “The EU-China Summit will be the first occasion for leaders from both sides to meet since China issued its policy paper on EU Relations, and the EU approved its strategy for relations with China during the next years. In its strategy, the EU outlined its priority on Tibet as encouraging China and the Dalai Lama to further strengthen ongoing direct contacts with a view to finding a mutually acceptable solution to the question of Tibet in the context of ensuring a genuine autonomy for this region.”
China s first policy paper on relations with the European Union released on 13 October 2003 urged, “personages of various circles in the EU to visit Tibet and welcomes the support of the EU and its members to Tibet’s economic, cultural, educational and social development and their cooperation with the autonomous region subject to full respect of China’s laws and regulations. The Chinese side requests the EU side not to have any contact with the “Tibetan government in exile” or provide facilities to the separatist activities of the Dalai clique.”
On the same day, the General Affairs Council of the European Union released a conclusion on the European Commission’s policy paper on China which said: “While acknowledging also improvements in relation to the establishment of the rule of law and the development of the legal system, the Council remained concerned about the significant gap still existing between the current human rights situation in China and the internationally accepted standards, in particular with respect to civil and political rights, freedoms of speech, assembly, religion, belief and the rights of persons belonging to minorities. As far as Tibet is concerned, the Council encouraged the continuation of the dialogue between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama.”
In response to the EU-China joint press statement, Mr. Thubten Samphel, the spokesperson of the Central Tibetan Administration said, “We are disappointed that Tibet was not covered by the joint statement. However, we are confident that the issue of Tibet would remain a regular subject whenever there are formal discussions between EU leaders and their Chinese counterparts.”
“Until now, the European Union has been held hostage to China ‘s insistence on mutual respect and non-confrontation on human rights issues, locked in a formal ‘human rights dialogue’ that has produced no relief for the victims of human rights abuses in China,” Dick Oosting, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office in Brussels said in their report released before the summit. “But in a mature relationship, all parties recognize that the relationship has to achieve results.”
BBC world news website this morning quoted Italian Prime Minister Mr. Silvio Berlusconi as having referred to the issue of China’s human rights record following the summit, saying there were “existing shadows that create an obstacle” to full collaboration between China and the EU. Italy holds the current EU Presidency until December 2003.
Lotte Leicht, director of the Brussels office of Human Rights Watch, said that the EU’s human rights dialogue with China was being treated “as a side issue” and kept apart from meetings where trade was discussed. The next round of EU-China Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place next month. But Human Rights Watch wants the dialogue upgraded from officials to politicians. “We need to move to a higher political level,” Ms. Leicht was quoted by Independent newspaper of UK today.
When the Fourth International Conference of Tibet Supports Groups (TSGs) concluded on 21 October in Prague, an appeal signed by TSGs addressed to the leadership of the present and future members of European Union called upon the European Union to appoint an EU Special Representative on Tibet. The appeal said, “The situation of Tibet is now urgent. At the same time, the resumption of contacts between Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government after 10 years and the change of leadership in China present an important new opportunity for movement on the issue of Tibet…As such, the EU’s immediate appointment of a Special Representative for Tibet is an effective and practical way for the members states of the EU to further the process of dialogue and negotiations between the two parties.”