6 July – Strasbourg: An Estonian Member of the European Parliament felicitated His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 80th Birthday during the Plenary Session of the Parliament in Strasbourg.
“Today we celebrate the 80th birthday of Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness Dalai Lama,” said Mr. Tunne Kelam, MEP. “This is occasion to express our solidarity with Tibetans, their religion and culture which Dalai Lama has represented with extraordinary dignity and persistence.”
Holding a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama while he spoke at the Parliament, Mr. Kelam reiterated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message of peace, non-violence, compassion and his continuous call to guarantee survival of Tibetan identity and culture need of the European Parliamentarians’ support.
Mr. Kelam was a former leading advocate for the restoration of independence in Estonian society under the Communist rule. He said that the best birthday present for His Holiness will be if the EU’s High Representative Mrs. Federica Mogherini and all EU politicians would on all occasions demand that the Chinese Government guarantee Tibetans genuine autonomy. And treat the Tibetans with full respect for their human and national rights that representatives of this ancient and unique culture rightly deserve.
Mr. Kelam is member of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
The photo exhibition – Ways of Wisdom: Celebrating the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday was inaugurated at the European Parliament Association Building in Strasbourg today.
The exhibition showed the most important phases of the Dalai Lama’s life dedicated to the promotion of non-violence and celebrating his message of dialogue, reconciliation and inter-religious harmony.
The exhibition’s theme was on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s autobiography and his three main commitments in life – the promotion of human values, inter-religious harmony and the preservation of Tibet’s culture and natural environment both of which are under threat of destruction under Chinese occupation. Also highlighted His Holiness’ visits to the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg including meetings with the European Commission, Council and Parliament’s Presidents.
The exhibition was on display in the European Parliament in Brussels from 30 June – 3 July.
European Parliament’s Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance issued a statement on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday. “The Dalai Lama is celebrating his 80th birthday today and the Intergroup wants to mark the occasion by commending his work to peace, human rights and democracy. His lifelong commitment and outstanding contribution to the promotion of nonviolence, human rights and religious tolerance has resonated throughout the world,” said the statement.
