For the kind attention of H.E. Miss Anna LINDH

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden

Strasbourg, 7 September, 2000

Madam Minister,

I have been very glad to meet you yesterday at the Committee Foreign Affairs and I appreciated the discussion that we have had.

I was particularly interested by your idea of the necessity, and I would add the urgency, of reopening the debate in the Council on the results, or better to say non results, of the so called "critical dialogue" on human rights with China.

Of Course I share your position concerning the need to re-evaluate the EU attitude towards the PRC at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva in the light of the progresses, or better the absolute lack of that, as far as the situation of democracy, human rights and the issue of Tibet are concerned.

But, baring in mind China's great capability of gaining the support of many States in that body, I think that the EU should define a new and strong position for its own first and then try to establish some common goals with the US.

The recognition of the Tibetan government in exile if, within three years, there is no agreement between the Chinese authorities and the Tibetan government in exile on a new and real autonomy statute of Tibet (cf. the July resolution of the EP) could be in my view one of such new goals.

I will be more than happy to contribute, how I can, to such a debate.

I thank you once again for your kind presence and I wish you the best in the preparation of the Swedish presidency.

Best regards,

Olivier Dupuis

Tel 0032-2-284.51.98

Fax 0032-2-284.91.98

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