China says open to talks if Dalai Lama stops 'separatism'

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

AFP
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Media persons throng to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak as he arrives at the Gaggal airport near Dharamsala, Monday, March 2, 2009. The exiled Tibetan leader arrived to his exile home town in Northern India after spending weeks touring Europe and then Tibetans settlements in south India around the Tibetan New Year (Losar) time. During a four-day visit to Europe the Dalai Lama was made the honorary citizen of the Italian cities of Rome and Venice. In Germany he was awarded the 2008 German Media Prize. (Photo by Tenzin Dasel/Phayul)

BEIJING (AFP)-- China said Tuesday it was open to new talks with the Dalai Lama over Tibet but repeated demands for the exiled spiritual leader to renounce “separatist” activities, which he already denies.

The government spokesman’s comments come amid high tension in Tibet and reports of a heavy Chinese crackdown in the run-up to 10 March’s 50th anniversary of a failed uprising that sent the Dalai Lama into exile.

“The door for contact and talks is always open and the channel is clear,” spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.

However, Qin blamed the Tibetan spiritual leader for the failure in November of the last round of talks on Tibet’s future.

“Whether our contact or talks will make progress will depend on whether the Dalai Lama can fundamentally reflect on and correct his political propositions, stop separatist activities and focus on improving relations with the central government,” Qin said.

Representatives of the Dalai Lama who took part in the talks with China blamed the November breakdown on “the failure on the part of the Chinese government to seriously respond” to the Dalai Lama’s efforts at reconciliation.

The Dalai Lama has sought “meaningful autonomy” for Tibet since he fled his homeland following a failed uprising in 1959 against Chinese rule, nine years after Chinese troops invaded the region.

China claims the Dalai Lama actually seeks full independence and is engaging in “separatist” actions in the remote region.

The Dalai Lama denies the claim.

Tibet erupted in violence last March, on the 49th anniversary of the failed uprising, and the Himalayan region has since been tightly controlled.