EU Parliament Urges China to Consider Memo on Genuine Autonomy for Tibet

乜哥

Friday, 13 March 2009

Dharamshala: European lawmakers urged China Thursday to renew dialogue on genuine autonomy for Tibet, in a resolution marking fiftieth anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising against the repression by the People's Republic of China, French news agency Agence France-Presse reported.

In the resolution, the EU Parliament "urges the Chinese government to consider the Memorandum for Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan people of November 2008 as a basis for substantive discussion."

The parliamentarians, meeting in Strasbourg in an assembly where the Tibetan flag has flown in recent days, urged the 27 European Union nations to "adopt a declaration calling on the Chinese government to open a constructive dialogue."

The resolution was passed by 338 votes for, 131 against and with 14 abstentions.

The lawmakers also called on Beijing to release people detained after peaceful protests and account for those killed or missing, and to allow foreign media and rights experts to enter Tibet and nearby areas.

More than 220 Tibetans have been killed and 1294 injured in the Chinese government’s ruthless crackdown on Tibetan protesters across Tibet since 10 March this year.

More than 5,600 people are still under arrest or detention and more than 1000 are reportedly missing.

The resolution asked Beijing to provide U.N. human rights experts, aid groups and foreign media "unimpeded" access to Tibet.

Addressing the EU lawmakers, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner expressed "regret that dialogue had not brought substantive results" between China and envoys of the Dalai Lama.」

She insisted on "the necessity for both parties to resume the dialogue promptly," adding that it would be the "best way to avoid frustration and violence among young Tibetans."

 

乜哥

 

Friday, 13 March 2009, 12:06 p.m.

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Dharamshala: During a meeting with China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday, US President Barack Obama on Friday expressed hope that there would be progress in the talks between the Chinese government and representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the issue of Tibet.

President Obama met with the Chinese foreign minister in the Oval Office. Prior to the meeting, the foreign minister met with National Security Advisor Jones and also met Wednesday at the State Department with Secretary of State Clinton.

"The President expressed his hope there would be progress in the dialogue between the Chinese  government and the Dalai Lama's representatives,"said the White House in a statement issued after the meeting.

During the meeting, Obama noted that promotion of human rights is an essential aspect of US global foreign policy.

"On human rights, the president noted that the promotion of human rights is an essential aspect of US global foreign policy,"the White House statement said.