Tibet: Beijing Cancels Estonia’s Diplomatic Visit
After the Dalai Lama’s recent reception in Estonia, the nation’s Agricultural Minister appears no longer welcome to take official meetings in China planned for later this month. During His Holiness’ visit the Chinese Embassy to Estonia stated that, despite global opinion seemingly to the contrary, meetings with the Dalai Lama were in violation of international standards.
Below is an article published by The Baltic Times:
China has cancelled the official visit of an Estonian minister later this month, in response to "an incident in Mid-August".
A visit to China by Agriculture Minister Helir-Valdor Seeder was axed because of the Dalai Lama's reception in Estonia last month. President Toomas Hendrick Ilves met with the Tibetan spiritual leader during his three-day visit, though the prime minister and speaker of parliament both declined a meeting.
The Chinese Embassy in Estonia formally protested the Dalai Lama's visit at the time, saying that it would hurt relations between the two countries.
"By allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Estonia and arranging official meetings with him, Estonia will seriously violate the basic principles of international relations," the embassy told national news agency ERR in a press statement.
"It is requested that Estonian side seriously consider China's stance, immediately adopt measures to cancel the official meeting and stop interfering in China's internal affairs," the statement read.
