Tibet vows to continue 'difficult' China talks

updated 6:48 a.m. ET July 4, 2008

NEW DELHI - An envoy for Tibet's exiled spiritual leader said Friday that the latest round of talks with China were "one of the most difficult sessions" held so far, but pledged to return for more discussions after the Beijing Olympics.

Lodi Gyari said during the meetings he countered China's accusations that the Dalai Lama planned to sabotage next month's Olympics and was behind anti-government protests that rocked Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabited areas of China in March.

"Such baseless accusations make the Chinese government really look ridiculous in the eyes of the world," Gyari said. "This time they realized that labeling his Holiness being responsible for the present disturbances in Tibet and accusing him of sabotaging the Olympics is something that no one buys."

Gyari called the discussions "one of the most difficult sessions" the two sides have had, but said they agreed to meet again after the Olympics.

"I told my Chinese counterparts very candidly that if there is not seriousness on their part it is almost pointless for us to waste each other's time," Gyari told reporters at the New Delhi airport Friday before returning to Dharmsala, the base for Tibet's government-in-exile.

Two days of meetings were held this week in Beijing between Chinese officials and the Dalai Lama's envoys.

'Unfortunate legacy'
Gyari said he was not expecting a breakthrough in the negotiations anytime soon.

"My Chinese counterpart said we have 50 years of unfortunate legacy behind us. Therefore it would take time to resolve the Tibetan issue. I do agree with that," he said.

Some experts believe Beijing agreed to the talks to ease international criticism that it was too heavy handed in its response to the demonstrations in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa in March.

Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department said the Dalai Lama should "openly and explicitly" promise and prove through his actions that he does not support disruptions of the Beijing Olympics, nor plots to incite violence, reported the state Xinhua News Agency .

He also told the Tibetan envoys that the door of dialogue was always open.

China has governed Tibet since communist troops marched into the Himalayan region in the 1950s. The Dalai Lama, who fled to India amid a failed uprising in 1959, has said he wants some form of autonomy that would allow Tibetans to freely practice their culture, language and religion.

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