OSIJEK, July 9 (Hina) - Chinese Ambassador to Croatia Zhi Zhaolin on Tuesday stated that his country did not expect outgoing Prime Minister Ivica Racan to receive Tibetan religious leader, the Dalai-Lama.
OSIJEK, July 9 (Hina) - Chinese Ambassador to Croatia Zhi Zhaolin on
Tuesday stated that his country did not expect outgoing Prime
Minister Ivica Racan to receive Tibetan religious leader, the
Dalai-Lama. #L#
Following a closed meeting with Osijek Mayor Zlatko Kramaric,
Ambassador Zhaolin said in response to questions by journalists
whether China would forward an official protest to Croatia, after
it did it to Slovenia, because of the meeting between the Dalai-Lama
and Premier Racan, Zhaolin said the Dalai-Lama's reception with
Croatia's resigned prime minister regardless of whether it had a
private or unofficial nature was outside China's expectations.
I would personally hope that no negative repercussions arise given
that diplomatic relations were established between China and
Croatia nine years ago and since then these relations have
developed successfully, Zhaolin said.
Asked to comment the Dalai-Lama's statement of the prospects for
Tibet to gain economic and cultural independence from the Chinese
government, Ambassador said that since the 13th century Tibet has
been a constituent part of China and the Dalai Lama was well aware of
that history and his endeavours for independence were senseless.
Experience has shown that the Dalai Lama says one thing and does
something else, Zhaolin said evaluating that China had hoped his
visit to Croatia would not take on a political dimension which in
fact did occur.
At the meeting with Mayor Kramaric there was talk about future co-
operation between the city of Osijek and China.
(hina) sp ms