LOCATION:	Charles Lynch Room, Centre Block
DATE:	February 6, 2001
TIME:	10:30
SPEAKERS:	Mr. Thubten Samdup, president of Canada Tibet Committee
	Ms. Tenzin Yangdon, campaign spokesperson, Canada Tibet Committee
	Mr. Antoine Dub�, Bloc Quebecois
	Mr. Svend Robinson, NDP
	Mr. Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance
	Mr. Irwin Cotler, Liberal

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT URGE THE PRIME MINISTER TO CONVENE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND TIBET
Ottawa, January 30, 2001: More than eighty(80) members of parliament from all parties call upon Prime Minister Chretien to convene face-to-face negotiations between representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Government of China. The request comes as Chretien prepares to lead his second Team Canada trade mission to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong this February 9-18.

In their letter to Prime Minister Chretien, the MPs refer to the importance of putting foreign policy rhetoric into action. " Tibet provides an opportunity to highlight Canada's international reputation as peacemaker and defender of human rights.... We must use our friendship with the Chinese and the Tibetan peoples to convene the negotiating process between them &quot.

" The CTC believes that civil unrest, land disputes and a " climate of fear " are poor indicators for secure investment anywhere in the world ", said Ms. Tenzin Yangdon, Campaign Spokesperson for the Canada Tibet Committee. " However, since Canada has developed such a positive relationship with China, it provides an appropriate opening for the Prime Minister to jump-start the stalled negotiation process between representatives of the Dalai Lama and Chinese authorities."

The Prime Minister's office has not responded to the Canada Tibet Committee's request for a meeting before his departure to China.

At the press conference, the full text of the parliamentarians' letter will be released, including the list of signatories. An exclusive announcement will also be made regarding His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Canada.

For more information:	email: Mr. Thubten Samdup, (514) 867-6770
	email: Ms. Tenzin Yangdon , (514) 483-4470

---

See the links below:
Tibet and Negotiations
Tibet and Canada
Tibet and Trade