EU in quandary over Tibet and Beijing Olympics

By Mark John and Paul Taylor

BRDO, Slovenia (Reuters) - The European Union exposed its differences on Friday over how to respond to China's suppression of Tibetan protests, with divergences over whether ministers should attend the opening of the Beijing Olympics.

Britain, host of the 2012 Olympic Games, said Prime Minister Gordon Brown would definitely be present, after French President Nicolas Sarkozy publicly mooted the possibility of a boycott.

Germany said Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier did not plan to attend the opening ceremony in August but stressed there was no Tibet connection and that this was usual procedure for Germany.

"I don't think we will have a boycott on our agenda," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said as foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc began a two-day meeting due to discuss on Saturday a joint response to the events in Tibet.

Several EU ministers took refuge in a wait-and-see position. European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said there were still five months to go, and a judgment could depend on the circumstances on Tibet and on media freedom.

China's quashing of the pro-independence protests in Tibet has prompted mounting calls from human rights campaigners and intellectuals for European leaders to stay away from the Games.

Germany's Steinmeier said neither he, Merkel nor Berlin's sports minister had in any case planned to go to the opening ceremony, telling reporters: "In that sense, there has been nothing to cancel."

"Saying 'no' to the Olympics just to ease one's conscience helps neither the people in China nor the sports federations," he added.