Published by: World Tibet Network News, Monday, June 21, 1996

Source: ddpADN news agency, Berlin, in German 1507 gmt 18 Jun 96

The Chinese ambassador to Bonn, Mei Zhaorong, has failed to rule out that the likely passing of a motion on Tibet by the German Bundestag could threaten the planned trip to Beijing by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel on 11th July. "We will have to see the facts first. Then we will decide what to do," Mei said in an interview with the Hamburg-based weekly paper `Die Zeit', which was pre-released today [18th June].

Mei said there could be a cooling-off of Sino-German ties if the the cross-party motion [criticizing China's policy towards Tibet] receives parliamentary approval. He said the motion constituted " interference in internal affairs" which China could not accept. The " claims" it contained were wholly without foundation. Mei said he had the impression many MPs had no knowledge about the situation in Tibet ...