Brussels, 16/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine commented on the decision to hold the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing by declaring that she "respects the choice of the IOC", but "deeply regrets it". Recalling that Parliament had voted against such a choice (see EUROPE of 7 July, p.4), she added: "I hope that on the eve of the Games being held (…) democratic countries will raise the question of their participation if the human rights situation remains unchanged".
As for the member of the Bonino list, Olivier Dupuis, expressing his disappointment, he said that those who hoped that the holding of the Games in Beijing would help strengthen fundamental rights should now "prove that their theory was well founded". "We shall certainly be very happy to take note of any substantial progress", that may be observed, but without significant progress consistency would dictate that the Games be boycotted, said Dupuis in a press release.