IN THE strongest sign yet of an easing of the Tibet crisis, Chinese officials have said that they will meet envoys of the Dalai Lama "in coming days". The announcement follows sustained global pressure for dialogue after last month's violent protests in Tibet. CLIFFORD COONAN, China Correspondent reports
Anti-government riots in Lhasa and in other Tibetan areas have become a focal point for international criticism of China's human rights policy. World leaders have threatened to boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing on August 8th and demonstrations have plagued the progress of the Olympic torch run.
"In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai's private representative in coming days," the official Xinhua news agency quoted an unnamed official as saying.
"The policy of the central government towards Dalai has been consistent and the door of dialogue has remained open . . . It is hoped that through contact and consultation the Dalai side will take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks," the official said.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who has said renewed talks could be a prerequisite for attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, welcomed the move. "This is a major step. This renewed dialogue brings real hope," Mr Sarkozy said.
Private talks between Beijing and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's envoys have been inconclusive and have lacked any impetus until now, but with the attention of the world on China because of the Olympics and the violence in Tibet in March the talks could be significant.
A spokesman for the Dalai Lama's government-in-exile welcomed the talks as a step in the right direction, but said that only face-to-face meetings could resolve the issue.
European Commission president José Manuel Barroso, who is in Beijing to meet President Hu, described the announcement as "encouraging".
"If the concern of the Dalai Lama is, as he has always stated, respect of cultural identity, religious identity and autonomy inside China, I believe there is real room for a dialogue," Mr Barroso said.