BUCHAREST, Romania—Speaking to reporters on April 3 in Bucharest, Romania, during an important NATO summit, Prime Minster Stephen Harper said he won't be attending the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics in August.
Harper did not say he was boycotting the Games, just not attending. However, he did call on China to "respect human rights and peaceful protest, not just in Tibet but everywhere."
He also encouraged China to consider how its growing wealth and profile in the world and hosting the Olympics would focus the world's attention on its human rights issues.
"My strong advice would be to take these concerns seriously because I think they are likely to grow rather than diminish if we see a repetition of the current pattern," he said at the press conference.
Harper also reminded China that the world is watching. Although he is not attending the opening ceremonies, he said a high ranking representative will be there.