EU urges China to hold dialogue on Tibet

BRDO, Slovenia (Reuters) - The European Union called on Saturday for an end to violence in Tibet and urged China to hold a dialogue on Tibetan cultural and religious rights but avoided linking the issue to the Olympic Games.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the 27-member bloc wanted Beijing to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, noting he advocated non-violence and autonomy, not independence.

"It's in everybody's interest, including the interest of the Dalai Lama and of the Chinese government, to have a dialogue as soon as possible," he said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

In a joint text the bloc avoided any reference to the Beijing Olympic Games in August, after a week of public differences over whether to boycott the opening ceremony.

"The EU condemns all violence and pays its respect to the victims. It calls for an end to the violence and asks that arrested persons be treated in conformity with international standards," the statement said.

The text called for a "substantive and constructive dialogue which addresses the core issues like preservation of the Tibetan language, culture, religion and traditions."

The ministers sought a joint line under public pressure to step up the EU's response to the unrest, in which China says 19 people have died but the Tibetan government-in-exile says up to 140 have been killed.

But they watered down a draft declaration, removing a reference to "repression" and to the impending Olympics.

"DICTATORSHIPS"

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, a former human rights campaigner, nevertheless called it "a very firm message which attests to the total unity of the 27", adding that no one had wanted to discuss a boycott of the Olympics.

But differences over the Olympics rumbled on, with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg telling reporters: "I don't see why we should be represented at some opening ceremony.

"These things are very apt to be used by dictatorships," he said referring to the Moscow (1980) and Berlin (1936) Olympics.

"After all these years we should have learnt what the game is. (It is to) show for the benefit of those in power, who display all the glory and all of the show of the Games."

Given China's huge importance to the EU as an export market and investment magnet, diplomats said there was no prospect of economic or political sanctions.

Five months before the Beijing Olympics, it was too early to take any decision on attendance since the situation could change in Tibet and on other issues in China, ministers said.

(Additional reporting by Mark John; Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Myra MacDonald)