EP: BEIJING-TALK WITH DALAI LAMA AND INTRODUCE MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY

April 10, 2008: a resolution approved by the European Parliament states that the European Union will take a common position on the presence of its representatives at the inauguration of the Beijing Olympic Games and evaluates an "eventual" refusal to participate if China has not started a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.”
The resolution was approved with 580 votes in favour and 24 against, and was supported by all the major groups: Ppe, Pse, Alde, Uen, Greens, Gue.
The document, in various passages, invites China to respect human rights and the rights of minorities, as well as "to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and adopt a moratorium on the death penalty as requested by the UN Resolution on December 18, 2007, without delay, or at least before the Olympic Games."
The Parliament "firmly condemns the brutal repression of the Tibetan demonstrators by the Chinese security forces and the violent acts that happened on the streets of Lhasa and in Tibet”.
The Parliament asks for "an open and independent inquest into recent events and the repression in Tibet, carried out under the auspices of the United Nations."
The Parliament paid homage to the spiritual chief of the Tibetan people for urging "the practice of non-violence" and for refusing the request for independence, instead proposing a solution that aims for an authentic cultural and political autonomy and the freedom of religion.
The resolution concludes that the Parliament "awaits with interest a visit to the European Parliament by the Dalai Lama during 2008 to speak to the assembly, and it asks the Conference of Presidents to assess the possibility of anticipating the visit." (Sources: Apcom, Prima, 10/04/2008)