Thursday in Parliament: Tibet, Eastern Partnership

Published: 13 March 2009 y., Friday

Tibeto vienuoliai
Thursday saw MEPs talk about strengthening EU relations with Ukraine and Georgia through an Eastern partnership. They also supported increasing links through the existing neighbourhood policy, particularly in light of the gas crisis. On Thursday there was also a debate and resolution to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against China, calling on Beijing to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

On 10 March 1959 the people of Tibet rose up against the Chinese occupation of their country. The anniversary of that failed enterprise was marked this week by MEPs who passed a resolution 338 votes in favour with 131 against calling for China and the Dalai Lama to pursue dialogue based on the “Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People”.
 
Speaking in the debate German Christian Democrat Thomas Mann said, “the Memorandum must be the basis for further discussion with China.” He regretted that the non-violent appeal of the Dalai Lama for dialogue found no echo in Beijing.
 
British Labour MEP Glyn Ford said the resolution was “counter-productive” to Chinese-EU dialogue. In his view the way forward is “through dialogue and engagement not through rehash resolutions.”
 
Thursday also saw a raft of votes on issues that had been debated during the week. These included:
 
Protection of consumers, particularly minors, in the use of video games. EU accession progress reports for Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and CroatiaChildren of migrants 

Šaltinis: europarl.europa.eu
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

New blast wrecks NZ rescue hopes

A second explosion at the Pike River coal mine ends hopes that 29 workers missing since Friday can be rescued. more »

Buildings hit in S Korea shelling

South Korea says dozens of artillery shells from the North have hit buildings and prompted an exchange of fire. more »

Leaders meet to save wild tigers

Forum begins in Russia to find ways of saving the world's threatened tiger population. more »

Travelling without borders: Commission proposes stronger monitoring of respect of Schengen rules

In the EU, citizens can travel without border controls within the Schengen area. more »

Qantas plane turns back due to smoke

A Buenos Aires-bound Qantas Boeing 747 forced to turn back to Sydney one hour into the flight, due to an electrical fault. more »

Commissioner Piebalgs first visit to Central Asia to ensure EU's support to development in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

From 15 to 17 November, the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will travel to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to discuss the cooperation and assistance that the European Union provides for the two countries. more »

Suu Kyi addresses thousands

Freed Myanmar pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi tells supporters in Yangon she is encouraged to see them. more »

India arms girls to fight militants

Paramilitary troops train young girls in weaponry in India's northern Jammu and Kashmir state. more »

Enlargement - state of play

Enlargement strategy 2010 and assessments of the progress toward EU membership by Croatia, Iceland, Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. more »

EU and Mediterranean countries reinforce trade partnership

The Euro–Mediterranean Free Trade Area was on the agenda of a meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Trade Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Brussels. more »