John Gormley
Ceist:318 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to invite the Dalai Lama to visit Ireland in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/03]
Written Answers. - Dalai Lama.
The Government holds both the person and the office of the Dalai Lama in the highest regard and considers him to be a significant force for moderation in the present circumstances which exist in Tibet. He is always welcome to visit Ireland whenever he might wish to come here.
I wish to assure the Deputy that in its bilateral contacts with China, and through the European Union, Ireland has consistently called on the Chinese Government to fully respect the rights of the Tibetan people and to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
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 current impasse.
I reiterated this position during my meeting in Beijing with my Chinese counterpart, Minister Tang, on 23 January of last year. 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 the issues of concern.
Ireland is also pursuing the issue of Tibet through the EU-China human rights dialogue, which has proven to be the most effective fora in which to raise human rights issues of concern with the Chinese authorities. At the session of the dialogue on 5-6 March 2002, the EU raised its concern about the situation in Tibet, in the context of the political and cultural rights of minorities. The EU put forward its concerns, in particular over the detention of monks, closure of monasteries, and discrimination in population control policies.
The EU will continue to raise these concerns at all appropriate opportunities, including at the forthcoming EU-China human rights dialogue, to be held in Athens on 5-6 March 2003.
The issue was also raised at the 58th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, which took place last March in Geneva. In its statement on the human rights situation worldwide, the EU highlighted the situation in China, and Tibet in particular.
Ireland will seek to ensure that the human rights situation in China, including Tibet, is adequately addressed in any statement made by the EU at the forthcoming 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, scheduled to be held in Geneva in March-April 2003.
Ireland will continue to raise its concerns regarding the situation of Tibet in its bilateral contacts with the Chinese authorities, and urges respect for the rights of the Tibetan people and support for genuine dialogue with the Dalai Lama.