ANOC backs down on statement urging China to find negotiated settlement in Tibet

Stephen Wilson, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIJING - The body that governs 205 national Olympic committees backed down Wednesday on the wording of a statement that urged China to settle the conflict in Tibet, the day IOC president Jacques Rogge met with the Chinese premier.

The Association of National Olympic Committees original draft earlier this week urged China to find "a fair and reasonable solution to the internal conflict that affects the Tibet region."

However a draft statement released by ANOC on Wednesday removed the words "the Tibet region."

The new ANOC statement says "its confidence that the government of the People's Republic of China shall strive to find, through dialogue and understanding, a fair and reasonable solution to the internal conflict for the benefit of the games and the athletes."

"That is my mistake, I drafted the text," ANOC president Mario Vazquez Rana of Mexico said. "I was the author.

"It was not drafted by lawyers and in the first draft Tibet was mentioned. Then comments were made that this would be interfering in the internal affairs of the country."

Rogge met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for an hour to discuss preparations for the Beijing Games, which have been overshadowed by protests over China's human rights record and disruptions of the Olympic torch relay.

Rogge was accompanied by two IOC officials and China's two IOC members. The IOC said Rogge would brief his executive board Thursday and give more details at a news conference Friday.

"It was a good meeting where a range of games topics were discussed between both parties," the IOC said.

Rogge has refrained from criticizing China, saying he prefers to engage in "silent diplomacy" with the Chinese. The ANOC statement is expected to be debated on Thursday in a joint session of the IOC and ANOC executive boards.

In an interview broadcast Wednesday on the VRT television network in his native Belgium, Rogge warned that pushing China too hard on Tibet and human rights would be counterproductive.

"If you know China, you know that mounting the barricades and using tough language will have the opposite effect," he said. "China will close itself off from the rest of the world, which, don't forget it, it has done for some 2,000 years."

Earlier on Wednesday, Rogge chaired a meeting of the executive board. Members described it as a "preparatory meeting" for the official two-day board session starting Thursday and said the torch relay had not been discussed.

The meetings come amid heightened concern over the torch relay, which was hit by chaotic protests in London and Paris by activists opposed to China's crackdown in Tibet and other policies.

Tight security has been put in place for expected massive protests during the next leg of the relay in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Rogge expressed "deep concern" Tuesday over the violent nature of the torch protests and said the IOC board would review the plans for the rest of the relay. The IOC is also considering scrapping the international legs of future torch relays.

"We recognize the right for people to protest and express their views, but it should be non-violent. We are very sad for all the athletes and the people who expected so much from the run and have been spoiled of their joy," Rogge said.

Rogge said at the lighting of the Olympic flame in Greece last month that he was pursuing "quiet diplomacy" with the Chinese over human rights.

The torch began its 137,000-kilometre journey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to Beijing on March 24, and was the focus of protests from the start. The round-the-world trip is the longest in Olympic history, and is meant to highlight China's rising economic and political power.

After San Francisco, the torch is scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then to 12 other countries. The relay also is expected to face demonstrations in New Delhi and possibly elsewhere on its 21-stop, six-country tour before arriving in mainland China on May 4.

The Olympics begin Aug. 8.

© The Canadian Press, 2008