IOC's Rogge quiet on human rights for reasons of State

PARIS (Reuters) - International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge cannot speak in detail about human rights in China for diplomatic reasons, he said in an interview on Saturday.

"Of course I unquestionably value human rights," he was quoted as saying in French sports weekly L'Equipe Magazine.

"Reasons of State (raison d'Etat) forbids me to express myself in detail on that subject," he said in an interview two weeks before the start of the Beijing Games.

"I have to be careful about what I do and what I say. I am at the head of an organization. My duty is to make the Olympics a success and let the athletes express themselves freely. I am criticized. And I answer that I am ready to take blows in order to protect the athletes.

"In view of my responsibilities, I have lost some of my freedom of speech," the Belgian said.

The Olympics are scheduled to open in Beijing on August 8. China has faced concerted pressure from the West on its policy towards Tibet, human rights violations and freedom of the press.

In April, Rogge asked the West to stop hectoring China over human rights and said he favored respectful and quiet but firm discussion.

Concerns were also raised that some government leaders planned to boycott the Games' opening ceremony as a show of protest against the Chinese government.

"I call it hypocrisy when I hear a politician demanding a boycott of the Beijing Olympics when he is not even considering for one second calling back his ambassador or ceasing trade and cultural exchanges (with China)," Rogge said.  Continued...