Seán Ryan
Question:107 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on proposals received on the future of Tibet received from or on behalf of the Dalai Lama or other groups interested in human rights in Tibet. [21448/02]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
In March last, the Dalai Lama sent a letter to the EU Presidency, and to foreign Ministers of the member states, asking the EU to appoint an EU special representative to Tibet. The EU discussed and replied with a joint response. It was decided not to make such an appointment as it was felt that any EU representative would be unable to contribute effectively to the situation in Tibet without Chinese support. The Deputy will be aware that the Government, in our bilateral contacts with China and through the European Union, has consistently called on the Chinese Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama, and to respect fully the rights of the Tibetan people.
The Taoiseach raised the situation in Tibet during his meeting with the Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhu, in Dublin, in September 2001, and called for a dialogue between the affected parties with a view to overcoming the impasse. I reiterated this position during my meeting in Beijing with my Chinese counterpart, Minister Tang, last January. I highlighted, in particular, the level of concern in Ireland in relation to Tibet, and strongly encouraged the Chinese authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama on issues of concern.
Ireland also pursues the issue of Tibet through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which has proven to be a most effective fora in which to raise human rights issues of concern with the Chinese authorities. At the human rights dialogue session last March, the EU raised its concern about the situation in Tibet in the context of the political and cultural rights of minorities. The EU raised, in particular, the detention of monks, the closure of monasteries, and discrimination in population control policies.
These issues were also raised at the 58th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva this year. In its statement on the human rights situation worldwide, the EU highlighted the situation in China, and in Tibet in particular. Since then, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, met Mrs. Kesang Takla, the London-based representative of the Dalai Lama, who briefed him on the current situation in Tibet.
Last month, I was pleased to hear of the positive reception of two special envoys of the Dalai Lama who visited Beijing and Tibet. The purpose of their visit was to explain the Dalai Lamas proposal for a middle way and to allay Chinese concerns that this would promote Tibetan secession from China. The head of the Dalai Lamas delegation said in a statement that he had been impressed by the greater flexibility in attitude displayed by the current Chinese leaders. The Dalai Lama welcomed the positive gesture of the leadership in Beijing in receiving the delegation, and was very pleased that a renewed contact had been established. For our part, I hope that this visit will pave the way for direct dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama, leading to a peaceful and lasting solution to the Tibetan question.