Strasbourg, 14/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 June, the European Parliament called on the EU high representative for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, to appoint a special coordinator whose mandate would entail providing a regular report on Tibet, so as to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people and help it to protect and develop its distinct identity and its religious, cultural and linguistic heritage. The coordinator would also support constructive dialogue and negotiations between the Chinese government and emissaries from the Dalai Lama, as well as provide assistance to Tibetan refugees, particularly in Nepal and India. MEPs are also calling on Catherine Ashton to discuss the human rights situation in Tibet during EU-China meetings.
In its joint resolution, Parliament encourages the Chinese authorities to hold a constructive discussion with representatives from the central Tibetan administration on the future of Tibet and regrets that China has been reluctant to pursue the dialogue since January 2010.
MEPs are calling on the Chinese authorities to grant genuine autonomy to the historic territory of Tibet and are insisting that they respect the freedom of expression, association and belief of Tibetans, as well as their linguistic and cultural freedoms. Parliament reiterates its condemnation of the repression carried out by the Chinese authorities against Tibetan monasteries. It calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately authorise an independent international investigation into the 2008 demonstrations and calls for the release of political prisoners. MEPs also call on the Chinese authorities to allow unimpeded access and freedom of movement throughout Tibet for the independent media, journalists and other human rights observers. (CG/transl.fl)