By CLAIRE SMITH
THE Dalai Lama told MSPs yesterday of his dream that Tibetan culture could survive as an integrated part of China.
The exiled Tibetan leader, 69, who delivered the parliament’s weekly “time for reflection” – a short speech made by religious or other figures every Wednesday – said the Scottish Parliament could be a model for a new form of government in Tibet.
In a meeting with MSPs and dignitaries, he stressed that Tibet could survive only by unity with China.
The Dalai Lama told the chamber: “It is a great honour for me to visit this unique Scottish Parliament. In one way, this is a very old parliament, but at the same time it is quite a new parliament as well. I think I could learn something from your experience.
“I have always admired the democratic system. I believe each individual has the potential to create a better world.”
The Tibetan leader, who described himself as “semi-retired”, said he had been in negotiations with the Chinese government for the past two years. He said China was becoming more open and he was optimistic progress was being made towards a “meaningful autonomy”.
He said good understanding between Tibetans and “Chinese brothers and sisters” would be mutually beneficial.
With recent figures suggesting the population of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, is only 20 per cent ethnic Tibetan and 80 per cent Chinese, the Dalai Lama said co-operation was the only way forward. He told the meeting he had approached a group of Chinese protesters outside the Scottish Parliament. “I told them, ‘don’t worry, I support one China’,” he said.
The Nobel peace laureate even stopped short of opposing the Prime Minister Tony Blair’s support for lifting the embargo on arms to China. He said that, while he was opposed to the arms trade in principle, trade could promote mutual understanding and respect.
But he added: “Someone like Saddam Hussein did not come from the sky. He had a powerful army. Without a powerful army, a person cannot be a dictator.”
The Dalai Lama, who is Tibet’s religious as well as political leader, said he felt religion had an important role to play in the 21st century.
He said he was unsure if he would be the last Dalai Lama, saying: “The issue of whether the Dalai Lama should continue is up to the Tibetan people.”
He said he was delighted with the welcome he had received on his third visit to Scotland.
“People really show warm feelings, especially these young children, and I really appreciate that,” he said.
As he arrived outside parliament, he delighted children from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile Primary School. Scott Barclay, a ten-year-old sporting a Mohican, said: “He touched my hair and said, ‘Nice hair’.”
Later, as he was being photographed with the blue Himalayan poppy Edinburgh city council has adopted as its symbol, he beckoned to Cara Mackinnon and Kathleen Gallagher, of Firrhill High School, calling them “young flowers”.
