The conference was hosted by the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and took place during the weekend of the 24th and 25th of February. Delegations from 8 different countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and Switzerland) participated in the meeting.
The gathering was also attended by Mr. Monkhar Sonam Phuntsok, Member of the Tibetan Parliament in exile and Mr. Kelsang Gyaltsen, the head of the Office of Tibet in Geneva.
The conference started with a welcome speech by Lobsang Gangshontsang, the President of the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The delegates of the European Tibetan communities expressed grave concern about the alarming developments inside Tibet that threaten the survival of the Tibetan people with its distinct culture, religion, language and identity and about the lack of any substantive progress in the ongoing
Sino-Tibetan dialogue. As a result the conference resolved to intensify efforts by the Tibetan organizations in Europe to further the just cause of Tibet on all levels of public and political life in Europe.
The participants discussed the importance of building strong Tibetan communities in European countries with the aim of preserving the Tibetan culture, language, religion and identity and intensifying the efforts to promote the cause of the non-violent freedom struggle of our people. The important role Europe can play in contributing to a peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issue was discussed and consensus was reached to convene a Europe Tibetan Congress at the next possible date that will formulate the approach and policy to enhance the cause of Tibet in Europe.
The representatives of the Tibetan Communities expressed strong support for the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile and agreement was reached to request His Holiness the Dalai Lama to accept a Long Live Prayer by the Tibetans living in Europe in order to express their deep gratitude, unwavering loyalty and sincere request to His Holiness to live long for the benefit of the Tibetan people and all sentient beings.
It was decided to hold the next conference of the representatives of the Tibetan Communities in Europe in February 2008 to be hosted by the Tibetan Community in Belgium.
Report by Lobsang Lungthok on behalf of Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein
