China says stop Tibet protests to advance talks
ROME, June 10 (Reuters) - China on Tuesday called on the Dalai Lama and his supporters to halt Tibet protests and attempts to "ruin the Olympics," in order to create the conditions for future roundtable talks.
China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, speaking to reporters during a visit to Rome, did not say when the next round of talks would take place. Chinese officials last met envoys of Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader on May 4.
"We maintain that the Dalai Lama's side must halt the separatist activity, ending violent acts of destruction against China, halt its activity to ruin the Olympics, (thereby) creating the conditions for further meetings," Yang said.
At their last meeting, Dalai Lama envoys and Chinese officials agreed to hold more discussions on June 11. But those talks were postponed following China's earthquake in May that killed more than 69,000 people.
Yang, without entering into details, said China had shown its commitment to good-faith discussions.
"We demonstrated the maximum sincerity and good will toward resolving the problem," Yang said.
China is anxious to contain the Tibet issue ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August and Yang expressed anger at what he saw as protests meant to "ruin the Olympics."
China has repeatedly said the "Dalai Lama clique" was responsible for the disturbances in Tibet in March and protests that subsequently dogged the Olympic torch relay worldwide.
The team of two Tibetan envoys argued in May that events in Tibet were "a clear symptom of deeply felt grievances and resentment of the Tibetans" towards Chinese government policies going back decades.
The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. He says he advocates autonomy, not independence, for the strategic Himalayan region. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Jon Boyle)
China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, speaking to reporters during a visit to Rome, did not say when the next round of talks would take place. Chinese officials last met envoys of Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader on May 4.
"We maintain that the Dalai Lama's side must halt the separatist activity, ending violent acts of destruction against China, halt its activity to ruin the Olympics, (thereby) creating the conditions for further meetings," Yang said.
At their last meeting, Dalai Lama envoys and Chinese officials agreed to hold more discussions on June 11. But those talks were postponed following China's earthquake in May that killed more than 69,000 people.
Yang, without entering into details, said China had shown its commitment to good-faith discussions.
"We demonstrated the maximum sincerity and good will toward resolving the problem," Yang said.
China is anxious to contain the Tibet issue ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August and Yang expressed anger at what he saw as protests meant to "ruin the Olympics."
China has repeatedly said the "Dalai Lama clique" was responsible for the disturbances in Tibet in March and protests that subsequently dogged the Olympic torch relay worldwide.
The team of two Tibetan envoys argued in May that events in Tibet were "a clear symptom of deeply felt grievances and resentment of the Tibetans" towards Chinese government policies going back decades.
The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. He says he advocates autonomy, not independence, for the strategic Himalayan region. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Jon Boyle)
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