A recent European Union (EU) presidency statement says that EU supports the endeavor of China to provide stability as well as foster economic and social development in Tibet. The statement quoted the Slovenian Foreign Minister, Dimitrij Rupel as saying that it will be in the interest of both the European Union as well as China if both can zero in on mutual platforms on the Tibet issue. Slovenia currently occupies the revolving EU presidency.  

 

These statements were made by Dimitrij Rupel during a recent meeting in Ljubljana with Guan Chengyuan, who is the Chinese premier's special envoy. The Slovenian foreign minister informed that the EU would not ask the Spiritual head of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama to be present in a formal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. But it was pointed out that there was likelihood of contacts between the EU and the Dalai Lama ‘on other levels’.

 

As per the statement, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had sent a letter to Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who is presiding over the EU Council. In this letter, Wen Jiabao asked the latter’s views on the Tibet issue and events linked with Tibet that had happened in few EU member states. About the Beijing Olympics, Rupel said Slovenia resists the boycott of the Games as it is the greatest sports event in the world. He said it would be wrong to link it to politics.