Washington: US President George Bush will attend the Beijing Olympics next August as originally planned, thus ignoring the demand made by some international human rights groups and Tibetan activists in protest against the violence in Tibet.

"Certainly the President wants to make sure that our athletes have a really good experience, and I think that most heads of state around the world believe that, too," White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino said yesterday.

She said, "it is a chance for that country to put its best face forward, and it's also a chance for other countries to learn more about the country," she added.

Referring to the development in Tibet, she said, "we have expressed those concerns. And that's something that President and Secretary [of State Condoleezza] Rice can do that other citizens, concerned citizens around the world aren't able to do, just because they are not elected as a head of state. But the President, as head of state, has spoken very frankly to President Hu Jintao and Rice has done the same with her counterparts, and we will continue to do so," Perino said.

 

Source : UNI