Sarkozy offers to be go-between in China-Tibet talks

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called today for “restraint” in Tibet, and offered France as a go-between in any new talks between China and the representatives of the Dalai Lama.

A statement from Mr Sarkozy’s office said he sent a message to Chinese President Hu Jintao expressing sadness over recent “tragic events” in Tibet, and saying that he hoped talks between the two sides would resume.

“The president calls for restraint and the end of violence through dialogue in Tibet,” the statement said. Mr Sarkozy said France was available – as part of a French-Chinese partnership – to facilitate a resumption of talks.

Pierre Moscovici, a leader of the opposition Socialists, was quoted in a French newspaper over the weekend as criticising Mr Sarkozy for a “deafening silence” about the situation in Tibet. He urged tougher words toward China by France and the international community.

China’s Communist government has faced international pressure since protests against Chinese rule turned violent March 14 in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, sparking unrest in surrounding provinces.

A poll published today suggests most French people want Mr Sarkozy to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics this summer to protest China’s human rights situation, but think French athletes should compete.

When asked by the Liberation newspaper poll about how to protest China’s “human rights situation,” 53% of respondents said they were “rather favourable” to the idea of Mr Sarkozy staying away from the opening ceremonies. Forty-two per cent were “rather unfavourable.” The remaining 5% were not accounted for.

Meanwhile, 55% of those polled said they would not support a boycott of the Games by French athletes, while 41% favoured a boycott. No details were given about the rest. The poll of 959 people by CSA agency for the daily paper was conducted Thursday and Friday. No margin of error was given.

A separate poll published today in the French sports daily L’Equipe had similar results: 60% opposed a French boycott of the Games, but 54% said French leaders should not attend the opening ceremonies. That poll of 1,007 people was conducted Friday and Saturday by Ifop agency. No margin of error was given.

Moves to punish China over its handling of the violence in Tibet gained momentum last week, with the head of the European parliament and Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders calling for a boycott of the opening ceremonies.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner initially suggested he was open to the mini-boycott last week, but then backtracked from his comments on French TV and called the proposal “unrealistic”.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge had said he expects many heads of state including US President George Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mr Sarkozy to attend the opening ceremony.