In a September 12 declaration, the European Union Presidency welcomed the visit to Beijing and Lhasa by the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, with envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen.

The EU Council Presidency, which is held by Denmark through 2002, said that it “hopes this visit will pave the way for direct dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama leading to a peaceful and lasting solution to the Tibetan question.”

Full text of the declaration follows below:

12 September 2002
11943/02 (Presse 270)
P 127/02

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the visit by representatives of the Dalai Lama to China

On behalf of the European Union, the Presidency welcomes that representatives of the Dalai Lama are currently visiting China. The EU has long encouraged both sides to enter into dialogue. The EU hopes that this visit will pave the way for direct dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama leading to a peaceful and lasting solution to the Tibetan question. The EU will follow the visit with great interest.

The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.