World Tibet Network News Saturday, May 16, 1998

BEIJING, May 15 (Reuters) - China on Friday lashed out at the European parliament, saying it has adopted two resolutions that "poisoned" Sino-European ties. The official Xinhua news agency said the European parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution denouncing China for trafficking the organs of condemned prisoners. Xinhua also said the parliament called for the United Nations to set up a commission of inquiry concerning the naming of a special rapporteur for Tibet, a deeply devout Buddhist region in China's Himalayan region."The two resolutions adopted by the European parliament on Thursday have poisoned the atmosphere of Sino-European relations and totally run counter to the trend of the times," Xinhua said, quoting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao.

"The European parliament, agitated by a small number of people, passed the two resolutions which slander China on the sale of human organs and make irresponsible remarks on China's domestic affairs in Tibet," Zhu was quoted as saying. Zhu said the Chinese government strictly prohibited organ trade, and that the accusations were untrue. China could "never accept" the call for a special rapporteur for Tibet, Zhu said. Beijing has maintained that Tibetan affairs are purely internal to China, and that foreigners have no right to interfere. Relations between the European Union and China sharply improved in recent months as the two sides put a side rows over human rights in favour of dialogue.

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