China Protests Sarkozy-Dalai Lama Meeting

By VOA News 07 December 2008
China has lodged a protest with France over a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.Chinese state media say Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei summoned the French ambassador in Beijing, Herve Ladsous Sunday to make the protest.The French president met the Dalai Lama Saturday in the Polish city of Gdansk, at a gathering of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.Chinese media say Deputy Foreign Minister He told the French ambassador the meeting damaged Sino-French and Sino-EU relations. France holds the rotating EU presidency.The Chinese official is quoted as saying the French president "grossly interfered" in China's internal affairs and hurt the feelings of Chinese people.Mr. Sarkozy has tried to play down the meeting.He said he told the Dalai Lama that it is important for the Tibetan spiritual leader to continue to pursue dialogue with the Chinese government. Mr. Sarkozy said the Dalai Lama reiterated a pledge not to demand independence for Tibet from China.A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday that France must, in his words, "correct its mistakes" to allow Sino-French relations to continue steady development.Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking to separate Tibet from China and has long criticized foreign leaders for meeting with him. The exiled spiritual leader insists he only wants greater autonomy for Tibet.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.