DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=E-U / CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260391
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The European Union has joined the United 
States in criticizing China's human-rights record, but 
reserved judgment on whether it will support an 
American resolution on China at the United Nations 
Human Rights Commission.  Ron Pemstein reports from 
Brussels.

TEXT:  European Union foreign ministers have agreed on 
strong language saying the Union is deeply concerned 
by China's continuing and widespread restrictions on 
fundamental freedoms.  The statement mentions China's 
restrictions on freedom of assembly, expression and 
association.  

The European Union says it is dismayed by harsh 
sentences the Chinese government has imposed on pro-
democracy activists, and the severe measures it has 
taken against minority groups in Tibet and Xinjiang.  
The statement also expresses concern about arrests and 
harsh sentences for members of the Falun Gong movement 
in China, and restrictions on members of Christian 
churches.

Despite the strong words in Monday's statement, the 
European ministers say they will work for a negotiated 
approach to the China question at the U-N Human Rights 
Commission.  Portuguese foreign minister Jaime Gama 
(speaking through an interpreter) says the European 
Union does not have its own resolution to present (to 
the U-N commission):

            /// GAMA ACT W/ INTERPRETER ///

      We did not adopt a resolution today nor did we 
      adopt a draft resolution.  What we did adopt was 
      a position and the procedure will take its 
      course in the commission on human rights in 
      Geneva.

                  /// END ACT ///

The United States is trying to get the U-N Human 
Rights Commission (which is in session in Geneva until 
April 28th,) to pass a resolution criticizing China's 
record on human rights.  U-S Secretary of State will 
address the commission on the issue this week.

The statement passed in Brussels Monday says the 
European Union will try in Geneva to get a more 
focussed and result-oriented dialogue on human rights 
with the Chinese government.

The European Commissioner for external affairs, Chris 
Patten:

                  /// PATTEN ACT ///

      We have a human-rights dialogue with China.  It 
      hasn't frankly made as much progress as we would 
      have liked.  We hope that it makes more 
      progress.

                  /// END ACT ///

However, there is little hope of progress for the 
European dialogue on human-rights dialogue if the 
European Union supports the American resolution in 
Geneva.

At their meeting the ministers did not discuss China's 
recent threats against Taiwan.  However, Minister 
Gama, speaking for the rotating presidency of the 
European Union, says the E-U appreciates Taiwan's 
democracy, and hopes China and Taiwan will resolve 
their differences peacefully.   (Signed)

NEB/RDP/WTW



20-Mar-2000 17:08 PM EDT (20-Mar-2000 2208 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.