Berlin suspends talks with China over Tibet
Germany, expressing concern about unrest in Tibet, said on Wednesday it was suspending talks with China on development financing for renewable energy projects.
Negotiations were scheduled to begin in May, but in a statement, Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zuel said that, given the violence in Tibet, “talks between the two governments are inconceivable.”
“We are concerned about the perpetuation of violence in Tibet,” she said. “Violence can never be a solution. It’s only through dialogue that the two sides can find a solution.”
China said earlier Wednesday it was in a “life or death struggle” over Tibet as dramatic new footage emerged of Tibetans rampaging on horseback and destroying a Chinese flag.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has appealed for a resumption of talks with China, but Beijing is showing no signs of backing down in its effort to crush opposition to its 57-year rule of the Himalayan region. On Monday, a German government spokesman said Berlin opposed a boycott of the Beijing Olympics later this year over the Chinese crackdown in Tibet, stating that athletes would be the ones paying the highest price.
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Negotiations were scheduled to begin in May, but in a statement, Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zuel said that, given the violence in Tibet, “talks between the two governments are inconceivable.”
“We are concerned about the perpetuation of violence in Tibet,” she said. “Violence can never be a solution. It’s only through dialogue that the two sides can find a solution.”
China said earlier Wednesday it was in a “life or death struggle” over Tibet as dramatic new footage emerged of Tibetans rampaging on horseback and destroying a Chinese flag.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has appealed for a resumption of talks with China, but Beijing is showing no signs of backing down in its effort to crush opposition to its 57-year rule of the Himalayan region. On Monday, a German government spokesman said Berlin opposed a boycott of the Beijing Olympics later this year over the Chinese crackdown in Tibet, stating that athletes would be the ones paying the highest price.
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