Dan Boyle
Ceist:111 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to pursue the question of appointing a special EU representative on Tibet during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. [26023/03]
Written Answers. - EU-Tibet Relations.
In March 2002, the Dalai Lama wrote to EU Foreign Ministers, including myself, asking the EU to appoint an EU special representative to Tibet. In a joint response at that time, the EU Ministers were unanimously of the view that nominating an EU special representative would not achieve anything practical. This position has not changed, and it remains that our concerns regarding Tibet are most usefully expressed to the Chinese authorities directly.
Our ongoing concerns regarding the protection of human rights in Tibet continue to be addressed, along with the general human rights situation in China, both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU-China human rights dialogue, as well as through appropriate action at the UN, including at the Commission on Human Rights.
I am encouraged by China's first ever policy paper on the EU, published on 13 October 2003. This calls on EU representatives to visit Tibet and welcomes EU support for the economic, cultural, educational and social development of Tibet.
The Government's position remains that the best way to achieve progress in relation to the situation in Tibet is through dialogue between the Government in Beijing and the Dalai Lama. In this regard I welcome the reports of positive dialogue between Chinese officials and a delegation of the Dalai Lama's envoys, when the latter visited China during the summer, following the change of leadership in China.