Today's Date:

We are very concerned about the situation and events taking place in Tibet and in other provinces. We express our sadness and sympathy to the friends and families of the victims of these events.

Speaking in Brussels on Friday after the European Council, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, M. Bernard Kouchner, called on the Chinese authorities to show the utmost restraint. We reiterate that call and expect all parties to work for a return to calm.

We continue to follow the situation extremely closely with our European partners. We informed the Chinese authorities of our concerns on Friday.

These events make it more necessary than ever to engage in dialogue to achieve a lasting solution that allows the Tibetans to enjoy their cultural and spiritual identity to the full in the framework of the People’s Republic of China.

With the approach of the Olympic Games, which must be a great show of fraternity, France calls the attention of the Chinese authorities to the importance of respecting human rights./.