JJOO/Tíbet: Parlamento Europeo pide presiones y resultados
Ultimátum del Parlamento Europeo a Pekín. Si las autoridades chinas no reanudan el diálogo con Tíbet, la UE debe considerar un boicot coordinado a la ceremonia inaugural de los Juegos Olímpicos. Hasta ahora, los Veintisiete han evitado adoptar una posición común y se han limitado a emitir tibios llamamientos al diálogo hacia China. Pero en los últimos días ha aumentado la presión para que los gobiernos europeos no dejen pasar esta oportunidad e intenten sentar a ambas partes en la mesa de negociación.
Los eurodiputados reclamaron ayer "una posición común de la UE" para decidir su representación - y la presencia o no de Javier Solana, contrario al boicot- en la ceremonia de apertura. La ausencia en la gala es "una opción" que debe ser considerada "si no se reanuda el diálogo" entre China y el líder espiritual tibetano, advierte la resolución, aprobada por 580 votos a favor, 24 en contra y 45 abstenciones. Ese "diálogo constructivo" debe buscar "una solución duradera para la autonomía cultural y política de Tíbet y libertad religiosa", reclamaron los eurodiputados.
El texto condena la "represión brutal" de las fuerzas de seguridad chinas contra los manifestantes tibetanos y pide que la ONU abra una investigación sobre los disturbios de marzo y su represión. La Eurocámara, que a finales de año recibirá al Dalai Lama, pidió el nombramiento de un mediador europeo para facilitar el diálogo. La resolución reclama a Pekín que abra las fronteras de Tíbet y dé acceso a la prensa y diplomacia extranjeras, al tiempo que aplaude la posición del Dalai Lama a favor de la autonomía.
El Gobierno alemán se declaró ayer "seriamente preocupado" por la situación en la zona, dijo el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores germano, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "¿Cuándo, si no ahora, será el momento adecuado de reanudar el diálogo chino-tibetano? ¿Y con quién se va a hablar, más que con el Dalai Lama?", apuntó el número dos de la diplomacia alemana, Gernot Erler. El llamamiento llega poco después de que Londres anunciara que Gordon Brown no asistirá a la inauguración, en contra de lo anunciado. El premier había abogado por no mezclar deporte y política, posición hasta ahora mayoritaria que podría evolucionar.
11-IV-08, B. Navarro, lavanguardia
MEPs urge boycott of Olympic opening ceremony
11.04.2008 - 07:45 CET | By Renata Goldirova
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament has added pressure on EU governments to take a stronger stand over China's crackdown on Tibetan protesters, suggesting that the Olympic Games opening ceremony be uniformly boycotted if Beijing does not open talks with the Dalai Lama.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday (10 April), the parliament "firmly condemns the brutal repression by the Chinese security forces against Tibetan demonstrators" and urges EU leaders to "find a common position ... with the option of non-attendance in the [opening] event", should there be no resumption of dialogue between the Chinese authorities and Tibet's spiritual leader.
Some 580 MEPs voted in favour of the resolution, 24 were against, while 45 abstained.
"By adopting this resolution with an overwhelming majority, the European Parliament continues to exert pressure on China to improve the situation of Tibet and the human rights situation in the whole country," two prominent green MEPs, Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni, said on Thursday.
"China has to respect freedom of expression and human rights. It must not misuse the Olympic Games and suppress possible demonstrations by arresting dissidents, journalists and human rights activists," they urged.
The euro-deputies also reiterated their long standing request to EU capitals to appoint a special envoy for Tibetan issues tasked to facilitate and closely follow the negotiations once they are resumed.
The resolution has no legal power as MEPs have no say in the union's foreign policy area, but the parliament president is set to use it as a political tool when talking to EU capitals.
"Now that the president has the full mandate of the parliament, he will be having bilateral talks with the [EU] presidency and [the EU's chief diplomat] Solana to push the issue and seek a strong common EU position," a spokesman for Hans-Gert Poettering was cited as saying by Reuters.
Mr Poettering is set to table the idea of a possible boycott at the European People's Party meeting in Dublin next week - the party includes the ruling party of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
"Every responsible politician must ask the question whether he can take part in the opening ceremony if the Chinese leadership does not seek dialogue and compromise," the parliament president said two weeks ago, shortly after the Chinese authorities suppressed anti-Beijing protests in Lhasa with a show of force.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday he would not attend the Olympic Games opening ceremony, but was quick to stress the decision was linked only to "schedule issues".
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will also skip the opening, Downing Street has confirmed, although not as part of a boycott. Mr Brown plans to attend the closing ceremony instead.
At the moment, the 27-nation bloc is finding it difficult to present a united front on the Olympics.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she never intended to go to the opening ceremony while French leader Nicolas Sarkozy - who will be chairing the EU in August - has linked his appearance to the developments on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Olympic flame is due to arrive in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires on Friday (11 April), with some 1,200 police and additional 3,000 civil assistants tasked to guarantee security for the runners.
Local pro-Tibet activists have already vowed to "make surprise and peaceful protests across the city", Reuters news agency reports.
