We are publishing in "Second Page" the Resolution on China that was approved at the most recent session of the European Parliament. The resolution, which was presented by the liberal group, sparked a lively debate which was highlighted by a particularly animated point-counterpoint between deputy Alain POMPIDOU (UPE) and Olivier DUPUIS (ARE), of which we report a few excerpts.

Alain Pompidou: "Mrs. President, I must say that I was surprised by the attitude of certain of my colleagues who spoke of the disrespect of human rights in regards to the politics conducted by France, in particular those of the President of the French Republic. These same colleagues could have interested themselves in what has been happening in France. I must say that, in effect, one cannot be interested in everything, but that President Chirac received at the Elysee', before his departure, a delegation of ONG that are active in China, among them Amnesty International and the International Human Rights Federation. He affirmed his intention to confront the human rights question with the proper Chinese interlocutors, and requesting specific explanations concerning the cases of certain prisoners of conscience by signing a political declaration which includes these essential aspects of the relations between France and that nation..."

Olivier Dupuis: "No Signor Dupuis, I don't believe that France's reception of a handful of ONG at the Elysee' will be enough to wash away the double infamy of Geneva. What France did there was to lend support to the politics defended by the Chinese authorities of modernization without democracy. The other infamy was that of destroying the glimmer of the common foreign politics that the European Union has tried, with much difficulty, to create. All this is extremely grave and Chirac's trip to China only confirms this. Talking about one or two dissidents will not change the situation. He has infringed upon the logic of Europe, and sustained the infamy of the Chinese government, which manifests itself every day through the hundreds of thousands of citizens it keeps imprisoned."

*Resolution of the European Parliament on discriminatory measures taken by China against certain EU Member States (B4-0359/97)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in China,

A. whereas all members of the United Nations (UN) are committed to protecting and promoting human rights as stated in the UN Charter, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the international covenants on human rights and other documents,

B. whereas the mandate of the UN Human Rights Commission is to look into and discuss matters related to the human rights situation around the world,

C. whereas China has accepted the 1993 Vienna Declaration on Human Rights,

D. whereas the General Affairs Council stated on 4 December 1995 that the basic goals of the EU in its relations with China are, inter alia, 'the promotion of democracy, structures based on the rule of law and the respect for human rights',

E. whereas the China Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996', published by the US Department of State, states: 'The Government continued to commit widespread and well-documented human rights abuses, in violation of internationally accepted norms, stemming from the authorities intolerance of dissent, fear of unrest, and the absence or inadequacy of laws protecting basic freedoms. The Constitution and laws provide for fundamental human rights, but they are often ignored in practice. Abuses included torture and mistreatment of prisoners, forced confessions and arbitrary and lengthy incommunicado detention. (...).The Government continued severe restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, religion, privacy and worker rights. (...) In many cases, the judicial system denies criminal defendants basic legal safeguards and due process (...).',

F. regretting that the European Union failed to speak with one voice and present a common resolution on the human rights situation in China during the 53rd session of the UNCommission on Human Rights in April 1997 in Geneva,

G. whereas Denmark, supported by Ireland and the Netherlands - the country which currently holds the EU Presidency -, tabled a resolution on the human rights situation in China, which other EU Member States did not support;

H. whereas China has postponed Danish and Dutch trade missions and has threatened these two States with further retaliatory measures,

1. Welcomes and supports the resolution tabled by Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and others to denounce human rights violations in China;

2. Deeply deplores the fact that there was no common EU foreign policy on China in Geneva;

3. Urges the Council to establish solidarity and a common policy between all Member States regarding the human rights situation in China;

4. Considers it unacceptable that China has threatened to impose discriminatory trade measures against the abovementioned EU Member States;

5. Urges China to refrain from all discriminatory measures against EU Member States;

6. Calls on the Council and the Commission to lodge an official protest against this discrimination with the Chinese authorities;

7. Calls on the Commission, the Council and all Member States to show solidarity with Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and any other countries which may be faced with Chinese retaliating measures;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States and the Government of the People's Republic of China.

(Published by FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - Number 58 - 31 May, 1997)