Dalai Lama calls for EU envoy to help understanding of Tibet

Date: 07/03/02

By David Cronin

The EU fails to recognise the complexity of the 'Tibetan problem', according to the Dalai Lama's envoy to Brussels.

Kelsang Gyaltsen said the European Commission and Council of Ministers seemed 'to lack a clear and sustained policy' on the country.

The institutions' efforts to raise the plight of the Chinese occupied state with Beijing have brought no tangible benefits, he believes.

'Indeed, over the past few years, the Chinese government's attitude on Tibet appears to have hardened significantly.'

The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists, is calling on the EU to appoint a special representative to the country, with a similar status to its envoys to the Middle East and Balkans.

Gyaltsen feels that such a move could help deter campaigners for Tibetan autonomy from resorting to violence and would be consistent with the goals of the worldwide coalition against terrorism.

'The intransigence of the Chinese government and the absence of visible and concrete support for Tibet by the international community encourage radicalism and militancy,' he said.

'His Holiness [the Dalai Lama] will continue to counsel non-violence and has stated publicly that he would have no choice but to withdraw from the leadership of the Tibetan freedom struggle if Tibetans would abandon the cause of non-violence.

'The appointment of an EU special representative for Tibetan affairs would go a long way to strengthen the argument of His Holiness that his approach is the most practical and reasonable way to protect Tibet and to ensure the survival of the Tibetan cultural identity.'

Former-US President Bill Clinton appointed a representative on Tibet and the practice has been maintained by his successor George W. Bush.

Although China refused to hold talks with Clinton's nominees, it has agreed to meet Washington's current envoy on Tibet Paula Dobriansky.

'It seems that the firm and consistent stand taken by two US administrations in succession has led to the recognition by Beijing that Tibet has high status in US-China bilateral relations and cannot be avoided,' Gyaltsen added.

The EU fails to recognise the complexity of the 'Tibetan problem', according to the Dalai Lama's envoy to Brussels, Kelsang Gyaltsen.