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».
Under this point of view do you fear that some member states internal problems could affect the European policy on Tibet?
«Honestly I don't believe the two situations are comparable. Europe and China are two different realities».
I refer to countries such as Spain, where Catalans and Basques claim for independence. Don't you think the government of the countries such as Spain could deny their sustain to Tibetans because of the internal nationalist movements?
«I'm from Corsica. There for the first time a candidate from an nationalist party won the administrative elections (we talk about Gilles Simoni, who gained 55% of votes becoming mayor of Bastia, nfa). In China nationalist parties even don't exist, and cannot run for elections. So, the situation is deeply different: in China there's not the possibility of expression».
Tibetans ask for a reprise of dialogue and they asked it to the European Union, too. However it seems Europe didn't hear this request, so what Tibetans have to expect from EU?
«A decisive action for dialogue. The European Union cannot use two weight and to measures. It's something absurd».
Di you talk about with president Barroso and president Van Rompuy? «Sure»
Which answer did you get?
«Since the conversations were private I can't talk about, but I can say the message was brought to their attention and it arrived at destination».
Are you going to talk about the same topic to the new presidents?
«Sure, and I hope we can have a change of attitude».
Emanuele Bonini
 |
| 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».
Under this point of view do you fear that some member states internal problems could affect the European policy on Tibet?
«Honestly I don't believe the two situations are comparable. Europe and China are two different realities».
I refer to countries such as Spain, where Catalans and Basques claim for independence. Don't you think the government of the countries such as Spain could deny their sustain to Tibetans because of the internal nationalist movements?
«I'm from Corsica. There for the first time a candidate from an nationalist party won the administrative elections (we talk about Gilles Simoni, who gained 55% of votes becoming mayor of Bastia, nfa). In China nationalist parties even don't exist, and cannot run for elections. So, the situation is deeply different: in China there's not the possibility of expression».
Tibetans ask for a reprise of dialogue and they asked it to the European Union, too. However it seems Europe didn't hear this request, so what Tibetans have to expect from EU?
«A decisive action for dialogue. The European Union cannot use two weight and to measures. It's something absurd».
Di you talk about with president Barroso and president Van Rompuy? «Sure»
Which answer did you get?
«Since the conversations were private I can't talk about, but I can say the message was brought to their attention and it arrived at destination».
Are you going to talk about the same topic to the new presidents?
«Sure, and I hope we can have a change of attitude».
Emanuele Bonini
No comments:
Post a Comment