DHARAMSALA, September 13: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is currently on a ten day tour to Europe yesterday visited the Lithuanian Parliament and met with Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Irena Degutienne.
Addressing the Parliament, the Nobel Laureate highlighted the critical situation inside Tibet where 121 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
“The more people there are suppressed, the stronger is their spirit of defiance. In fact, the younger people seem to be even more determined than their elders,” the Tibetan leader said.
The Dalai Lama also suggested that the delegation of European Union Commissioner for Human Rights, during its upcoming visit to China and Tibet, investigate the causes of the self-immolations by the Tibetans with the help of a Tibetan interpreter.
His Holiness further added that, “Today, the new Chinese leadership seems to be taking a new line with its admirable efforts to tackle corruption. Their more holistic and realistic approach may be a sign of a change in policy under which the situation may improve,” he said.
“Meanwhile, to protect their own vested interests, Chinese hardliners continue to accuse me of being a ‘splittist’, which means my Lithuanian friends are supporting a splittist too. This is wrong,” he said bursting out into his mischievous laughter.
that day, His Holiness met with the Mayor of Vilnuis, Arturas Zuokas and the country;s first president Valdas Adamkus. He was invited by Mayor Arturas Zuokas to his residence after which they attended gathering of invited guests and fielded questions at the Vilnuis City Hall.
On Wednesday, the Tibetan spiritual leader met with the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite.
Expressing her happiness for His Holiness visit in the country, President Dalia said, “I hope that you will enjoy meeting with people because people love you and I think for me it is an honor to be able to meet you.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama first visited Lithuania in 1991 shortly after it restored its independence.
Later today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a public talk on the ‘Path to Peace and Happiness in a Global Society’.
During his ten-day tour of Europe, he is scheduled to visit Czech Republic and Germany during which he will give public talks and teachings. The Tibetan leader will also participate in a Human Rights Forum in Prague alongside Burmese democracy icon and fellow Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Human Rights Forum was started by the late Czech President and Velvet Revolution icon Vaclav Havel and American Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel in 1997.
