The UN Economic and Social Council preparing for the World Summit
on Sustainable Development passed on February 8 the Chinese
government's motion to disqualify the "International Campaign for
Tibet" from attending the world summit.
According to a report from China Radio International, the Chinese
motion was approved by a vote of 93 to 44, with 16 abstentions.
Spain, the presidency nation of the European Union, earlier on
behalf of the EU had put forward a motion requesting the Economic
and Social Council to approve the "International Campaign for
Tibet" as qualifying for attending the World Summit on Sustainable
Development which will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from
August 26 to September 4. The Chinese government immediately raised
a motion stipulating "no action" on the EU motion.
Ambassador Wang
Yingfan, permanent representative of China to the UN, pointed
out that the Chinese government always attaches great importance to
and appreciates the role of non-government organizations in the
field of sustainable development. But, he said, the "International
Campaign for Tibet" aims mainly at separating Tibet from China and
denies the fact that Tibet is an inseparable part of Chinese
territory. The headquarters of the "International Campaign for
Tibet" is based outside China (in Washington DC in the United
States), and most of its chief members are overseas separatists who
support independence of Tibet and those who are hostile to the
Chinese government.
(中國新聞網[Chinanews.com.cn]
by Li Peichun, February 9, 2002, translated by Chen Qiuping for
china.org.cn)