His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred with Rome’s honourary citizenship Tuesday, 10 February 2009, 10:16 a.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama receives the honourary citizenship of Rome

Rome: His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Monday was presented the honourary citizenship of Rome. Hundreds of people welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the motorcade drove up the hill to the Rome city hall. The mayor of Rome received His Holiness in front of the city hall, followed by a private meeting.  Then senior Italian government ministers and officials were introduced to His Holiness including the youth minister, the minister of municipal policies and the leader of the senate, Mr Maurizio Gasparri.

His Holiness presents a Khata (traditional Tibetan scarf) to mayor of Rome

His Holiness then signed the Rome’s Golden book. As His Holiness walked into the Rome City Chamber, one could hear the chanting of free Tibet and people waiving of Tibetan national flags. Mayor Gianni Alemanno, in his address prior to the presentation of the honourary citizenship appealed to Republic of China to resume dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the autonomy of Tibet.  He also called on the Italian government to support this initiative. “Your presence here is a sign of our moral rejection of injustice, violence and repression … aimed at defending a people’s identity and the right of each of us to express our spirituality and culture,” Alemanno said.

“We stand by you and strongly demand the full recognition of the autonomy of the Tibetan nation,” the mayor said, presenting His Holiness with a statue of the she-wolf that raised Rome’s founders Romulus and Remus, according to legend.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked Mayor Gianni Alemanno on behalf of the six million Tibetans. His Holiness said he felt honoured and receive the award in the spirit as he received the 1989 Noble Peace Prize. His Holiness said, it was an “encouragement to support the non-violent efforts and it gives me courage. Today, as I was recognised for my efforts
for achieving genuine autonomy for Tibet, I think the Tibetan people
will not feel abandoned in their struggle for the just cause of Tibet.”

His Holiness signing the “Golden Book of Rome”

His Holiness said, while this award is being presented, the situation in Tibet is very tragic and things are extremely tense. His Holiness said that “our way of approach to resolve the Tibetan problem is to bring benefit to the Tibetan and the Chinese people.” His Holiness reaffirmed his commitment to his three main commitments in life – the promotion of human values, religious harmony and to resolve the Tibetan issue. Prior to leaving the Rome city hall, His Holiness briefly addressed few hundreds of people gathered at the Piazza del Campidoglio with Tibetan flags and banners.   In the morning, His Holiness met with a delegation of about 25 members of Tibet group in the Italian Parliament. They asked His Holiness about the present situation in Tibet and what they can do for Tibet. His Holiness said one ancient nation is dying and the people of the free world has a responsibility to help. After attending the ceremony at the Rome city hall, His Holiness left for Venice.