China Warns President of France, Sarkozy, Not to See Dalai Lama

[Breeze54]

China Warns Sarkozy Not to See Dalai Lama

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/world/asia/09sarkozy.html?ref=world

By STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: July 9, 2008

PARIS —

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, who is expected to announce on Wednesday that he will after all attend the opening ceremonies of Beijing’s Olympic Games, was warned by China on Tuesday not to meet with the Dalai Lama in France next month.

China’s ambassador to France, Kong Quan, told reporters there would be “serious consequences” for Chinese-French relations if Mr. Sarkozy meets the Dalai Lama, asserting that it “would be contrary to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.”

Mr. Sarkozy has been vague on whether he will meet personally with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader in exile, regarded by China as a renegade “splittist” who has advocated resistance to China’s sovereignty.

China has repeatedly accused the Dalai Lama and his subordinates of instigating anti-Chinese riots in Tibet three months ago and encouraging a boycott of the Beijing Olympics, which the Dalai Lama has denied. Representatives of both sides recently resumed suspended reconciliation talks.

France holds the presidency of the European Union, and Mr. Sarkozy has said that his attendance at the Aug. 8 opening ceremonies will depend on progress in those talks. The Dalai Lama’s visit to France, for a conference on Buddhism, comes after the opening of the Olympics.

Mr. Sarkozy is scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao of China in Japan during the Group of 8 summit conference under way there, and Mr. Sarkozy is expected to say that he will be in Beijing for the opening ceremonies.

French protests in April of the Chinese crackdown on Tibetan unrest caused fury in Beijing, creating political problems for Mr. Sarkozy and complications for French companies, which some angry Chinese, encouraged at first by their government, have boycotted.

[saltpoint]

1. As an assertion of what value there can be in an international forum of

ideas, I hope Sarkozy does indeed meet with the Dalai Lama.

I understand the imperatives of global marketing and France's stake in that game, but I think the meeting is more important and deserves to be pursued.

Sarkozy is not wrong to schedule such a meeting; the Chinese government is wrong to bring pressure to bear to try to prevent it.

[Breeze54]

2. I agree and I hope he does meet with the Dalai Lama too!

The Chinese Gov. is insane, imho! :eyes: