‘China must not miss the opportunity to talk to the Dalai Lama’[Wednesday, 22 September 2010, 8:57 a.m.]

Mrs Angelika Diekmann (c) presents His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Menschen-in-Europa awardin Passau, Germany, on 21 September 2010

Passau, Germany:
“China must not miss this opportunity to talk to the Dalai Lama to
resolve the Tibetan issue,” said Mr Roland Koch, the former minister
president of the German state of Hesse. “I believe it is in the Chinese
own interest to make peace with the Dalai Lama.”Mr Koch made
these remarks during the 2010 Menschen in Europe Award presentation to
His Holiness the Dalai Lama by the Verlagsgruppe Passau.“This
man stands for non-violence,” he said. Mr Koch added failing to support
His Holiness means gun is right. He called on the free people of the
world to stand and do something for the Tibetan people.His
Holiness the Dalai Lama said that he was honoured to receive the award.
He said that since childhood, he had a close feeling with Deutschland.
“You built a new nation from ash. From immense destruction you have
built a strong economic and developed good democratic system. I admire
you all,” he said.

Mr Roland Koch meets His Holiness the Dalai Lama

His
Holiness said that the education system should focus more on human
values and quality. Moral ethnic is not based on religion but on
secularism. Secularism doesn’t mean disrespect for religion.Speaking
on the Tibetan issue in response to a question from the panel
discussion’s moderate, His Holiness said, “Our demand is simple.
Tibetan issue is nothing to do with the Dalai Lama’s institute. Tibetan
people have placed trust in the Dalai Lama and majority of Tibetan
people will listen. I am one simple person. Tibetan issue is the issue
of 6 million Tibetans.”His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that
20th century was a century of war and the 21st should be a century of
dialogue and peace. Peace does not mean that there are no more
conflicts. “But the goal should be to find for both sides, a solution
that is acceptable,” he said.Previous winners have included
former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, Chancellor Angela
Merkel (CDU) and the Israeli President Shimon Peres.