European Parliament President to boycott Olympics opening ceremony

Critical: Hans-Gert Poettering

Hans-Gert Poettering said he regretted the lack of a breakthrough last week in
meetings between envoys of the Dalai Lama and the authorities in Beijing,
adding: "Given that these talks have to date proved inconclusive, I have
decided not to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

"But I very much hope that the dialogue between the envoys of the Dalai Lama
and the Chinese authorities will soon be pursued in a constructive way aimed at
achieving results."

Mr Poettering said the Dalai Lama had the full support of the European
Parliament in his calls for a "middle way" in Tibet, involving cultural
autonomy and religious freedom instead of independence, and in not questioning
China's "territorial integrity".

He added: "We expect that China will respect its own public commitments to
human rights and minority rights announced when the decision to allow China to
organise the Games was taken. This is a great opportunity for China to open
itself up to the world and to demonstrate that it is committed to
internationally-recognised fundamental rights."

Meanwhile, Green MEPs today condemned the decision of French President Nicolas
Sarkozy to attend the opening ceremony  - representing the EU as well as
France.

The leader of the Green group in the European Parliament, Daniel Cohn-Bendit,
said: "It is scandalous that Nicolas Sarkozy will not boycott the Olympic
opening ceremony.

"He said that his attendance was conditional on an improvement in the human
rights situation and progress resulting from talks between the Chinese
authorities and Tibetan envoys. No progress has been made. On the contrary, the
Chinese have issued a thinly veiled threat to the Tibetans not to cause trouble
during the Games and political prisoners continued to be detained.

"The opening ceremony is a grandiose political showcase, not a sporting event.
By attending, Nicolas Sarkozy gives his endorsement and seal of approval for
China's flagrant disregard of its own promises on human rights."