By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 17: The Dalai Lama met with the prominent leaders of the Slovakian government yesterday which turned out to be a busy last day of his schedule in Slovakia. Lunch with the President Andrej Kiska and a meeting with a delegation from the Slovakian parliament, the Tibetan leader engaged with the top rung of the Bratislava administration.
The Dalai Lama and President Andrej Kiska discussed politics and revamping the existing education system and incorporating the importance of inner values in the curriculum, over lunch at the Altitude Restaurant. Kiska who donates his salary is lauded as a philanthropist for founding a charitable organization that helps families across Slovakia and Czech Republic with financial difficulties related to medical expenses.
The Dalai Lama told Slovakians at the National Tennis Center, “I’ve just had lunch with your marvelous President. We talked about how politics can often become dirty, but he told me that what he really wants is to serve the people. We found we have a lot in common. We talked about how existing education systems focus on material goals with too little attention to inner values. There needs to be a more holistic approach. I mentioned to him that a curriculum to enable young people to learn more about universal values is being prepared.”
A delegation from the Slovakian parliament also met with the Tibetan leader earlier that morning. Ms Lucia Nicholson, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly; Mr. Frantisek Sebej, Chairman Foreign Affairs Committee; Mr Martin Poliacik, MP and member of the Tibet Group and Mr Pal Csaky, MEP and former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia had a brief meeting, although the issues discussed were not released to the public.
The same day in an interview with Slovak TV, the Nobel laureate reiterated his stand on immigration and responsibilities of international community to help refugees. He said, “At this moment in Syria, for example, people are facing tremendous suffering. Because of the real dangers they face, many are becoming refugees. Many European countries, Germany in particular, have done well to provide them shelter. It’s appropriate to offer them refuge, to provide education to the children and training for the youth among them. However, just as important is to work to restore peace in the lands they are fleeing.”
A refugee himself, the 81 year old added that refugees intend to return to their own countries once conflicts in their homeland are resolved. He said, “The majority of us Tibetans who are refugees still hope to be able to return and restore our own country one day.”
