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Merkel Will Skip Olympics

German chancellor says she's not protesting, but Czech and Polish leaders are

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 29, 2008 7:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other top German officials won't be going to the Beijing Olympics, the Guardian reports, joining Polish and Czech leaders who have pledged to stay away. But while Polish PM Donald Tusk and Czech President Vaclav Klaus said they'll be boycotting the opening ceremony to protest human rights abuses in Tibet, the Germans said their absence isn't political.

France's Nicolas Sarkozy has said he is open to the possibility of a boycott, and his foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, has called the idea "interesting." British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made it clear he plans to attend. The EU's 27 foreign ministers will try to hammer out a common policy at a meeting this weekend.

Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus responds during an interview in New York, Tuesday, March 4, 2008, after he spoke to the 2008 International Conference on Climate Change. Klaus is an outspoken skeptic of global warming.
Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus responds during an interview in New York, Tuesday, March 4, 2008, after he spoke to the 2008 International Conference on Climate Change. Klaus is an outspoken skeptic...   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier are seen in Brussels in this March 14, 2008 file picture.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier are seen in Brussels in this March 14, 2008 file picture.   (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures during a press conference following a two-day EU summit in Brussels, Friday, March 14, 2008.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures during a press conference following a two-day EU summit in Brussels, Friday, March 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk answers questions about allowing U.S. missile defense interceptors to be based on Polish soil, Monday, March 10, 2008, during and interview with The Associated Press in Washington, following his meeting with President Bush.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk answers questions about allowing U.S. missile defense interceptors to be based on Polish soil, Monday, March 10, 2008, during and interview with The Associated Press...   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Decision not political, German ministers say
Der Spiegel

British reject calls for a boycott
BBC

 
China • Angela Merkel • Germany • European Union • Nicolas Sarkozy • Gordon Brown • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Bernard Kouchner • boycott • Donald Tusk • Vaclav Klaus

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