ATC has asked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to raise the Tibetan situation with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and discuss ways July’s G8 summit in Japan can be used to help resolve the Tibet issue.

Mr. Rudd, who was at the forefront of the international diplomatic efforts that led to the recent meeting between the Dalai Lama’s envoys and Chinese officials, will be meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister next week and returning to Japan in July as an observer at the G8 Summit.

Many of the leaders representing permanent G8 countries, including President George Bush, President Nicholas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda have made strong unilateral statements of support for the China-Tibet dialogue.

‘We remain convinced that with enough international pressure we will see the current Tibet-China dialogue upgraded to formal substantive negotiations on the future of Tibet prior to the Olympic Games in August’ said Paul Bourke, Executive Officer of the Australia Tibet Council.

‘The G8 provides an important opportunity to encourage both sides to take the next step in that direction.’

Renowned Tibetan scholar Robert Thurman has written an open letter to all the G8 leaders requesting the Dalai Lama and other Nobel Laureates be invited to Japan to address a special session of the Summit, an initiative being supported by international Tibet support groups. Chinese President Hu Jintao will also be present at the Summit.

‘The Dalai Lama’s presence at the summit could provide the opportunity for a direct meeting between him and Hu Jintao – a landmark step towards the peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue.’

With only two months remaining until the Olympics, the Australia Tibet Council is deeply concerned about Wednesday’s announcement of a probable postponement of talks between the Dalai Lama’s envoys and Chinese officials originally expected to take place next week.