World Tibet Network News Tuesday, March 17th, 1998

Geneva, 17 March - Mr. Tony Lloyd, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, speaking as one of the guest speakers at the 54th UN Commission on Human Rights this morning, expressed the concern of the European Union and 11 other countries over the human rights situation in Tibet.

The statement said: "The EU welcomes the acceptance by China of the principle of universality, and China's growing integration into the UN human rights system.

"The EU's human rights Dialogue with China was revived in 1997. We have used that Dialogue as a vehicle to discuss in detail with the Chinese authorities the continuing deep concerns within the Union at various aspects of the human rights situation in the country. These concerns include individual cases, the extent of the use of the death penalty and suppression of religious and cultural freedoms, including Tibet. We have discussed those differences in a constructive spirit of mutual respect. We have also agreed a programme of practical cooperation between the two sides ranging over areas of civil and political as well as economic and social rights including areas such as the judicial system. The Union remains firmly committed to working for improvements in all these areas.

"The EU has been gratified to note some positive steps by the Chinese Government, including the release of Wei Jingsheng, the signature and proposed ratification of the ICESCR, the access given to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the decision to report to the UN on Kong Kong under the ICCPR and ICESCR. We welcome China's recent announcement that it is preparing to sing the ICCPR and hope that China will now move rapidly to signature and ratification. We are also pleased that China has decided to invite the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, to pay an official visit. We hope that these will constitute the opening of a new stage of full cooperation with the mechanisms of the UN human rights system.

"In the light of these development, the EU will not be tabling or co-sponsoring a draft resolution on China at this year's session of the Commission. The EU will keep this matter under close review in the light of progress in the Dialogue and developments on the ground, including China's cooperation with the UN human rights system."

Other guest speakers who referred to China in their statements were Prime Minister Lionel Jospin of France and German Foreign Minister Dr. Klaus Kinkle, both of whom said that China's recent overtures on two UN conventions on human rights were "hopeful signs." Dr. Kinkle said: "I welcome the fact that China is now a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and also its announced intention to sign the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Those are hopeful signs, holding out a prospect of further urgently needed progress in enhancing respect for human rights in China. This is a goal to which we remain committed. Countries that think they can ignore their obligations under international human rights conventions are on quite the wrong track. That means legally and politically they cut themselves out." Ms. Tarja Holonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland in her speech said: "Finland stresses the importance of full cooperation of Governments with Special Rapporteurs

and other human rights mechanisms. There are many positive examples of an increased will to cooperate. China, for instance, has show preparedness for enhanced integration with UN mechanisms including legal instruments. We would encourage more steps in this direction."

The European Union statement by Mr. Lloyd of United Kingdom was supported by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus.

Forwarded by

Tibet Bureau

Geneva, SWITZERLAND