EDINBURGH, 18 November: His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived here this morning in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh from the United States and was received and welcomed at the airport by the city’s civic head, Lord Provost Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association ecretary-General Victor Spence and His Holiness’ representative Mrs. Kesang Y. Takla, who heads the London-based Office of Tibet.
Later in the afternoon after granting an audience to South Africa’s Member of Parliament and former home minister, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, His Holiness addressed a media meeting to answer a series of questions ranging from the Tibet issue to the issues of multi-culturalism and inter-religious harmony that a journalist said was of deep concern especially in the Western world. Mr. Buthelezi is in Edinburgh to attend the two-day 4th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet that began today and has attracted
over 50 parliamentarians from over 30 countries,
excluding observers. The convention, hosted jointly by the Scottish Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet and the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, has invited His Holiness as their guest of honour to address the convention’s closing session tomorrow.
At the meeting with the media held in a hall at
Dynamic Earth, an important tourist attraction near the Scottish Parliament, His Holiness was joined by the Convenor of the Scottish Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet, Mr. Chris Ballance, the Chairman of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, Mr.Harry Cohen, Edinburgh’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association’s Mr. Victor Spence and Representative Mrs. Kesang Y. Takla.
Addressing the issue on Sino-Tibetan dialogue, His
Holiness told the media gathering arranged by the
Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association and the Edinburgh City Council that although there have been four rounds of talks between the Tibetan and Chinese representatives, the situation inside Tibet has not improved.
“Although the meetings have been held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, unfortunately there is no sign of leniency in Tibet. The main purpose of talking with China is for the welfare of the Tibetans inside Tibet and the preservation of the Tibetan culture,”His Holiness said. He also said that besides the Tibet issue, he is fully committed to his other two commitments, namely, promotion of human values and
inter-religious harmony in the world.
On the question relating to closer relations between the United States and Britain with China, His Holiness said that since the last many years he has supported the view that China should not be isolated but instead should be encouraged to respect rule of law and the freedom of press and speech.
“China’s friends like the United States and Britain should take a firm stand on human rights, rule of law and religious freedom that is in China’s own interest,” His Holiness said. The Tibetan Nobel Peace Laureate noted that the American President George Bush, whom he met a few days back in Washington D.C.,and is now touring Asia has spoken about the need for democracy in China.
Newspapers reported yesterday that President Bush
endorsed the “legitimate demands” of China’s 1.3
billion citizens for “freedom and openness” and that he warned that, whether the country’s leadership liked it or not, change would come. “Men and women who are allowed to control their own wealth will eventuallyinsist on controlling their own lives and future as well,” newspapers quoted the American President as saying, added that he also urged China to “permit full
freedom of religion.”
Answering a question on multi-culturalism, His
Holiness said that respecting each other’s cultures and religion would ensure inter-religious harmony and understanding among people from different religious and cultural backgrounds. He said that no one has the right to judge which aspect of a particular culture or religion is right or wrong.
Welcoming His Holiness “again to Edinburgh”, the Lord Provost that she look forward to His Holiness’ sold out public talk tomorrow at the Usher Hall in downtown Edinburgh. She said in the Scottish capital they are trying to promote and encourage multi-culturalism and hoped that His Holiness’ positive message will be carried across well and benefit the people as during and after last visit in June 2004.
In his brief introductory remark, the Scottish Member of Parliament Chris Ballance said that he and his group were delighted to co-host the 4th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet that he said was going well. He said they attach great importance to this Tibet convention and that he was optimistic about its outcome.
Member of Parliament Harry Cohen, who is from the
ruling Labour Party said that “His Holiness is a man of immense wisdom” and that he finds His Holiness’ push for democracy within the Tibetan exile community extremely remarkable. Saying that His Holiness is “one of the great leaders of our time”, the British parliamentarian said that in this age of fight against terrorism, the non-violent path lead by His Holiness
should be rewarded. Noting that it requires two hands to clap, he urged the Chinese President Hu Jintao to meet with His Holiness to resolve the Tibet issue.
His Holiness’ meeting with the press was attended by more than 30 TV, radio, news agency and newspaper representatives, that also included a Chinese journalist, who too was given the opportunity to ask a question.
In the evening His Holiness attended a major education conference at the Edinburgh University where he gave the keynote address on “Cultivating warm-heartedness”.
The theme of the education conference was ‘Leading
the Way on Positive Education’ and His Holiness’
presence ensured a packed hall participation of
teachers and educationists from different parts of
Scotland and UK.
His Holiness’ programme for tomorrow includes a public talk on “Ethics for the New Millennium”, a visit to the Scottish Parliament at the invitation of the Scottish Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet and addressing the 4th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet.
The following morning, His Holiness and entourage
members will leave for Belfast in Northern Ireland, where His Holiness for three days will be taking part in some peace programmes and meet with civic, religious and political leaders to share experiences and continue with his desire to also contribute to the fragile peace processes there.
Report by: Tsering Tashi (Office of Tibet, London)
