Roche silent on Tibet riots
European Affairs Minister Dick Roche, in Shanghai and Beijing for the St Patrick’s Day festivities, confirmed he did not raise with his Chinese government hosts the crackdown on protesters in Tibet.
Mr Roche said the correct channel for raising such concerns was through the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
“I think the appropriate way is to do it at home. We’re here with a very specific focus and that is to bring attention to Ireland, to Irish culture, to Irish connections, to the linkages that we’re trying to establish between Ireland and China,” said Mr Roche.
When the opportunity presented itself in conversation with officials, the issue was “touched on”, said Mr Roche, but not raised formally by him or the Irish delegation in China.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio, Mr Roche pointed out that Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern had already expressed concern in the appropriate way by making a statement from Argentina, where he was on St Patrick’s Day duties.
Mr Ahern also instructed department officials to meet with their counterparts in the Chinese embassy in Dublin and convey Irish concerns.
“Oddly, I had a meeting with the relevant minister on Friday before the news of the events really broke here, so I didn’t have that opportunity [to raise it],” said Mr Roche.
Mr Roche’s programme in China included attendance of the Luwan Irish Festival in Shanghai, a visit to Fudan University in the same city and an embassy reception.
The programme embraced “Ireland’s priorities in trade, education, science and technology and the food sector”, the Government said.
Total trade between Ireland and China was worth €6.3bn in 2006.
