WRITTEN QUESTION E-2122/99 by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Appointment of a Union special representative for Tibet.
Date: 1999-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Tibetan question, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic profession, international human rights law, international negotiations, political prisoner

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/139

(2000/C 203 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2122/99

by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Appointment of a Union special representative for Tibet

The Council is surely aware of Parliament(cid:146)s resolutions of 13 July 1995 (1), 15 January 1998 (2), and 14 May
1998 (3) on the situation in Tibet.

In addition to condemning the illegal Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet, the resolutions explicitly
call on the Council and Commission to appoint an EU special representative for Tibet, who would be
(cid:145)responsible for doing everything possible to carry out the Union(cid:146)s demands as regards the civil and
political rights situation in Tibet(cid:146).

Parliament, the Commission, and numerous European Prime Ministers have assured the Dalai Lama that
they care about the human and civil rights situation in Tibet and wish to see genuine negotiations opened
between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities, with no preconditions on either side.

Furthermore, Parliament has repeatedly asked for news of the world(cid:146)s youngest political prisoner, Gedhun
Choeky Nyima, the 10-year-old Tibetan boy abducted by the Chinese authorities at the age of 6 after the
Dalai Lama had recognised him to be the latest reincarnation of Tibet(cid:146)s second most important spiritual
leader, the Panchen Lama.

1. Will the Council take the practical policy step of appointing a Union special representative for Tibet?

2. Will the Union act on the promises made to the Dalai Lama as regards the human rights situation in
Tibet and the opening of genuine negotiations between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities?

Can the Council exert pressure on the Chinese authorities to secure the release of Gedhun Choeky

3.
Nyima, Nawang Chophel, and Nawang Sandrol, now being held as political prisoners?

(1) OJ C 249, 25.9.1995, p. 162.
(2) OJ C 34, 2.2.1998, p. 169.
(3) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 223.

Answer

(24 January 2000)

1.
The Council has taken good note of the resolutions of the European Parliament concerning Tibet.
It has raised the Union(cid:146)s concerns over the situation in Tibet in its meetings with the Chinese and, in
particular, in the human rights dialogue with China. That dialogue, which was resumed in 1997, is not just
a means to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It aims to produce concrete
results in terms of an improvement of the situation on the ground. For the Council this dialogue could
produce more substantive results than the appointment of a special representative for Tibet.

2.
One of the objectives of the Union, in discussing rights of minorities in different regions of China, is
indeed the encouragement of dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama, hoping that
such a dialogue can lead to an increased autonomy of Tibet. The Union has used every opportunity to
raise this issue and will continue raising it with the Chinese side at Ministerial and official level.

3.
The Council also raises individual cases with the Chinese, and presses for release of political
prisoners. Gedhun Choeky Nyima, Nawang Chophel and Nawang Sandrol have been included in the list
submitted and discussed with the Chinese earlier this year.