Europe’s ambiguity over Tibet was on clear display on Monday when Martti Ahtisaari, former Finnish president and head of a prestigious European think-tank, declined to endorse the idea of EU contacts with the Dalai Lama, even as the Italian parliament moved to express its support for the exiled Tibetan leader.

Mr Ahtisaari said his think-tank, the European Council on Foreign Relations, did not have a position on EU dialogue with the Dalai Lama. He indicated he was not enthusiastic about such contacts.