Tag / Nicolas Sarkozy

by Nate DeMontigny

China-France deal further squeezing Dalai Lama

From The Associated Press

China expects France to shun the Dalai Lama as part of a fence-mending deal reached this week, the latest sign of Beijing’s hardened determination to isolate Tibet’s exiled Buddhist leader.

France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday, however, the agreement signed with Chinese President Hu Jintao does not forbid him from meeting the Tibetan spiritual leader.

The two countries announced Wednesday they were restoring high-level contacts frozen by China after Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama in Poland in December.

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by Nate DeMontigny

China cautions France to be careful on Tibet

From Agence France-Presse

China on Thursday called on France to carefully handle the “sensitive” issue of Tibet, a day after a French minister announced President Nicolas Sarkozy would host the Dalai Lama in December.

“China’s position on the Tibetan issue is consistent and clear,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“We hope France will pay attention to China’s concerns (and) carefully handle the related important and sensitive issue,” it said.

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by Nate DeMontigny

Sarkozy Could Skip Olympics Opening

From Associated Press – French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested Tuesday a boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was a possibility _ the first world leader to raise the prospect of punishing China over its ongoing crackdown in Tibet.

The United States, Britain and Germany all condemned China for using force against Tibetan protesters, but they stopped short of threatening to boycott the games or the Aug. 8 opening ceremony.

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