US, Europe to hail China talks with Dalai Lama

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LJUBLJANA (AFP) — The United States and the European Union will call on China Tuesday to have "results-orientated" talks on Tibet with the Dalai Lama's representatives, according to a draft joint declaration obtained Monday.

"We welcome China's recent decision to hold talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives. We encourage both parties to move forward with a substantive, constructive and results-orientated dialogue at an early stage," it said.

The declaration, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, was to be released after US President George W. Bush and European Union leaders hold an annual summit near Slovenia's capital Ljubljana.

"We are concerned about the recent unrest in Tibet and urge all sides to refrain from further violence," the declaration says....