Here the translation of my interview realized for Eunews.
«As European citizen I am ashamed of the reception reserved to Chinese president Xi Jinping». Henri Malosse is the president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and is above all the first president of a European institution to have been in Dharamsala to meet with the Dalai Lama, the highest Tibetan political and spiritual guide. Malosse's visit marked an historical moment for Europe. On the contrary, said to Eunews, the European Union still has not the courage to face China on respect for human rights and Tibet. EU keeps silence for economic reasons, leaving Tibetans alone in dealing with their destiny. In acting so EU uses «two weights and two measures», and that, in Malosse's opinion, «can't» be considered acceptable.
What about the impact of the EU economic interest on relations with China regarding Tibet? «European Union has not an attitude of courage, and has not a common position on this issue. These are the two aspects I denounce. In name of trade and contracts Europe has not the courage to talk to China neither about the Tibetan question nor about the respect of human rights. US president Barak Obama received the Dalai Lama, and the United States have commercial ties with China as well as EU has. But the presidents of the EU institutions never met the Dalai Lama».
Regarding the lack of a common position, what is the problem here?«Internally Europe still has too different perceptions among the member states. The Dalai Lama has been received by the government of the Czech Republic and Austria, but he has not been received by the French and German ones».
Henri Malosse, president of EESC |
What about the impact of the EU economic interest on relations with China regarding Tibet? «European Union has not an attitude of courage, and has not a common position on this issue. These are the two aspects I denounce. In name of trade and contracts Europe has not the courage to talk to China neither about the Tibetan question nor about the respect of human rights. US president Barak Obama received the Dalai Lama, and the United States have commercial ties with China as well as EU has. But the presidents of the EU institutions never met the Dalai Lama».
Regarding the lack of a common position, what is the problem here?«Internally Europe still has too different perceptions among the member states. The Dalai Lama has been received by the government of the Czech Republic and Austria, but he has not been received by the French and German ones».