No invitation to Dalai Lama, says EU Presidency

However, the Slovenian Presidency added that ‘contacts with him (the Dalai Lama) on other levels were not excluded’.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on April 1 that the 27 EU foreign ministers would invite the Dalai Lama once a decision had been made by the Slovenian EU Presidency.

At the time, Rupel said that inviting the Dalai Lama to Brussels was ‘doable’ but would need to be discussed by Foreign Ministers from the other EU nations.

China has opposed foreign nations providing support to what it has said was the Dalai Lama’s attempts to split Tibet from China, in reaction to reports that he may go to Japan and Europe.

Rupel on Friday received special Chinese envoy Guan Chengyuan, who had a letter laying out Beijing’s position on developments in Tibet and EU nations’ reaction to them.

In response, Rupel said that ‘substantive and open dialogue with the Dalai Lama could form part of the solution’ to the problem, according to the statement.

“Slovenia and the EU understand the urgency of restoring stability in China, but at the same time believe that the Chinese authorities could take more positive steps to address the situation in Tibet,” the EU Presidency said.