(TibetanReview.net, May08, 2015) – Mrs Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, appears to have shied away for taking up human rights issues during her May 5-6 visit to Beijing for the 5th China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue, according to the Voice of Tibet (Oslo) radio broadcast service May 6. Prior to her departure, 52 Members of the European Parliament had called on her to raise the Tibet issue with Chinese leaders during her meetings in Beijing.
The MEPs, belonging to six political groupings in the European Parliament, had expressed great concern at the continuing arbitrary detentions, arrests and torture of peaceful Tibetan protestors in Tibet. They had pointed out that 204 Tibetans had been arrested or sentenced since the new European Parliament was convened on Jul 1, 2014. They had added that six Tibetans had died in prison or on release and seven had self-immolated in Tibet during that period.
The MEPS also reminded Mrs Mogherini, who is also the vice president of the European Commission, of the Jun 2012 resolution on the human rights situation in Tibet adopted by the European Parliament. The resolution had mandated the EU High Representative to address the human rights situation in Tibet at every meeting with the representatives of the People’s Republic of China.
The MEPs had also called for the resumption of dialogue, stalled since 2010, between China and Representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve the Tibetan issue.
China’s official Xinhua news agency reported May 6 that Mrs Mogherini was in Beijing to meet with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and for activities marking the 40th anniversary of China and the EU forming ties. It cited her as calling on both sides to take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary to cement economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.