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DUBLIN - IRELAND'S Foreign Minister played down talk of a diplomatic row with China on Sunday after Beijing's envoy to Dublin walked out of a speech by a minister in which he said Tibet was a 'country' and condemned alleged human rights abuses there.
Speaking to state broadcaster RTE, Mr Dermot Ahern said that the suggestion that a row had occurred was 'overblown', and added that Environment Minister John Gormley's comments were 'in line with the government's position'.
China's ambassador to Ireland Liu Biwei walked out of the speech by Mr Gormley on Saturday night after the minister, who is also the Green Party's leader, made the remarks.
Speaking at the party's annual conference in Dundalk, northwest Ireland, Mr Gormley said, according to the Irish Times newspaper: 'One country which has been exploited and suppressed and suffered for far too long is Tibet.'
'We have always enjoyed good relations with the Chinese people, but we must condemn this abuse of human rights and call on the Chinese government to enter dialogue with the Dalai Lama,' said Mr Gormley, whose party is the junior partner in the Irish coalition government.
Television images showed the Chinese envoy stand up and walk out of the conference room. - AFP
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