Malta adopts 'wait and see' approach on Tibet protests

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said yesterday that like several other EU countries, Malta is adopting a "wait-and-see" approach on the proposed boycott of the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing in the wake of China's response to protests in Tibet. "Until now, nothing has been cancelled or postponed. We are monitoring the matter," Dr Borg told The Times when contacted shortly before he set off to Slovenia for a meeting with EU counterparts.

Dr Borg added that Malta was standing by the EU position on the situation in Tibet and was, therefore, calling on both the protesters and the Chinese authorities to show restraint.

The Tibet situation was brought to the world's attention on March 10 - the anniversary of the 1959 popular uprising against Chinese rule that was crushed by the Chinese military - as protestors are calling for autonomy and religious freedom for the province that was annexed by Communist China in 1951.

The strife has been discussed in the European Parliament where some MEPs have called for a boycott of the opening ceremony of the Games to be held in August.

Although many countries, including Malta, have not voiced their positions on this issue, the BBC reported yesterday that Poland's Prime Minster Donald Tusk and Czech President Vaclav Klaus have announced they will not be attending the opening ceremony.

According to the BBC, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will be attending the ceremony while Cyprus and Denmark have called for the event to remain clear of politics.

The BBC also reported that today's EU foreign ministers meeting in Slovenia will include discussions on Tibet. But according to the official EU website, the informal meeting will examine the Middle East peace process and the situation in Lebanon, the role of Syria, Iran and the activities of terrorist organisations.

Since the March 10 protests broke out in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, the EU has said it was concerned by the events.

The EU called for restraint on all sides: On the Chinese government to show restraint in their reaction against those involved in the unrest and on demonstrators to desist from violence. The EU also called on the Chinese authorities not to use force on peaceful demonstrators.

Dr Borg said Malta agreed with this "reasonable" statement by the EU.

He added that, during a series of courtesy meetings he was having with various embassies, the EU position on Tibet was mentioned during one such meeting at the Chinese Embassy. However, he stressed, the meeting was not on Tibet.

When contacted Zhou Maoyi, the Second Secretary at the Chinese Embassy, said that Malta and China had conducted "fruitful cooperation" in various fields and wished that the "Maltese people would respect the facts and look at the Lhasa incident objectively (and) unbiasedly."

Mr Zhou said the "so called peaceful demonstrations" were not peaceful but innocent civilians were exposed to "violent acts as beating, smashing, looting, and burning". He added that there was sufficient evidence that the incidents were instigated by the Dalai Lama clique and that it was "a fact rooted in history that Tibet is an inalienable part of China".

Lastly, Mr Zhou said, the Beijing Olympics were a major event for people around the world and should not be politicised.