MEP urges China to live up to Olympic spirit

12th February 2008

EURO-MP Glenys Kinnock will today join activists including Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams in calling for China to live up to the Olympic spirit and help end the violence in Darfur.

In the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games, the Euro-MP is among the signatories of a letter to President Hu Jinato calling on him to use his country's influence with the government of Sudan to end the mass atrocities in Darfur.

It comes as protest marches take place in cities across the world to put pressure on the government of China to take action on Khartoum.

Speaking in Brussels GLENYS KINNOCK said:

"If Beijing were to suspend all transfers of arms and spare parts to Sudan until a peace deal is reached in Darfur, then we would see real progress. China must step-up to its global responsibility and accept that it can no longer simply ignore or defend the devastating situation in Darfur.

"As Beijing prepares to host the Olympic Games - we are urging President Hu Jinato to ensure his country lives up to the spirit of those games and does its bit to end the suffering of the people of Drafur."