EU Urged to Promote Dialogue on Tibet
18 November, 2002
Brussels, 15 November – As the Chinese Communist Party confirmed its new leader in Beijing, a European Parliamentarian Conference on Tibet in Brussels today expressed deep concern about the continuing violation of the rights of Tibetan people by the People’s Republic of China, and unanimously called upon the European Union (EU) and national governments of European countries to push for a political settlement of the long standing Sino-Tibetan issue. A resolution adopted at this conference emphasised the above concerns by once again calling for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Tibetan Issues.
The legislators who attended the conference at the European Parliament invited by the European Parliament’s Tibet Intergroup President Mr. Thomas Mann (MEP) came from various countries across Europe.
“The EU must appoint a Special Representative for Tibetan Issues to ensure that the EU and its member States implement effective policies to promote an end to the tragic oppression of the Tibetan people,” said Mr. Mann. “The creation of such a position within the U.S. Administration has visible impact on the effectiveness of U.S. policy on Tibet in its relation with China,” he added.
The European Parliamentarian Conference on Tibet welcomed the renewed contact between the government of the People’s Republic of China and the envoys of H.H. the Dalai Lama and called upon the new leadership in China “to immediately embark upon earnest and sincere negotiations with the object of finding a just and lasting political solution.”
Delivering the keynote statement to the conference, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the first democratically elected chairman of the Cabinet of the Tibetan Government in Exile said, “Europe and European Union have a crucial role to play in resolving the Tibet Issue. I believe that the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Tibetan Issues is a crucial step for a sustained and effective role for the European Union to help Tibet and China to resolve the Tibetan problem peacefully.”
The resolution also highlighted existing mechanisms by calling on the EU to keep the performance of its human rights dialogue with the PRC under regular review in accordance with agreed benchmarks. Additional initiatives included urging all European governments and the EU to actively pursue and sponsor a resolution on the human rights situation in China and Tibet at the sessions of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
“This conference has provided a good platform for supporters of Tibet to meet and discuss the challenges facing the Tibetan Issue”, said Mr. Migyur Dorjee Secretary of the Office of Tibet in Brussels. “We thank the parliamentarians for adopting a strong resolution on Tibet which will encourage the Tibetan people to continue their non-violent freedom, struggle”, he added.
Contact :
Mr . Thomas Mann – + 32 2 284 5318
Mr. Migyur Dorjee – + 32 472 660 112
Ms. Tsering Jampa – + 31 629 004 547