Brussels, 18/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EU is “deeply concerned” by the situation in Tibet where over the last few days, demonstrations have been violently repressed by the Chinese authorities. There have been many victims. In a declaration published on 17 March, the EU called on the two sides to show restraint and asked China to “refrain from using force against those involved in unrest”. In the same declaration, published by the Slovenian Presidency of the EU, the EU27 highlight the importance they attach to the right of freedom of expression and peaceful protest. They call on the Chinese authorities to “respond to the demonstrations in accordance with internationally recognised democratic principles” and appeal for “peaceful reconciliation” between Peking and the Dalai Lama. The EU concluded that “the EU encourages both sides to enter into a substantive and constructive dialogue with a view to reaching a sustainable solution acceptable to all that would fully respect the Tibetan culture, religion and identity”.
Although EU sports ministers are categorically refusing to boycott the Olympic Games in Peking this year to protest against Chinese repression in Tibet (see other article, p.9), the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, said that this hypothesis should not be completely ruled out. In an interview to Deutschlandfunk on 18 March, Pöttering declared: “It is premature to say how things will pan out but all options have to be examined…We cannot accept what is happening in Tibet. The Chinese have to understand that…We have to send Peking a signal”. The European Commission does not intend to boycott the Olympic Games. The spokesperson for the commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, affirmed that a boycott “would not be the appropriate means” of expressing their concerns about human rights in Tibet. (H.B.)