His Holiness the Dalai Lama Receives German Media PrizeWednesday, 11 February 2009, 11:00 a.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama waves to a cheering crowd after being awarded with Venice’s honorary citizenship in Venice, northern Italy, 10 February 2009/Photo:AP

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has accepted the German Media Prize and praised the “role of the press in assisting Tibet in its efforts to seek genuine autonomy”, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.Media Control, one of Germany’s leading market-research companies as well as an interpreter in media-studies, analysis, and evaluation, presented the German Prize “Deutsche Medienpreis”, to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in Baden-Baden, Germany.”This Award from the media is of special significance,” said His Holinessthe Dalai Lama. “In democracy, freedom of press is essential to inform thepublic about the truth. The truth must been know”, His Holiness said.On his arrival at the hotel, a traditional Tibetan welcome song and dance was presented to His Holiness by the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, who were specially invited for the ceremony.

Tibetans welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama upon his arrival at a hotel in Baden-Baden in Germany, on Tuesday, to receive the German media prize (Photo:Tibet Bureau, Geneva)

As the Tibetan national anthem was sung at the start of the German Media Prize ceremony, Tibetan national flag was shown on large video screens on the stage. Guest wore Tibetan national flag pins on their jacket.During His Holiness’ address, he emphasized his three commitments – human value, religious harmony and the Tibetan issue. His Holiness spoke at length the importance of determination and compassion. On the issue of Tibet, he said that situation in Tibet was very tense.”The preservation of the Tibetan culture is important not only for the Tibetans but for millions of other Asian population. It is one of the important religions of the world,” His Holiness said.Mr. Roland Koch, the Prime Minister of the German state of Hesse, in his eulogy said His Holiness the Dalai Lama was a special person in the world and history. His Holiness had managed to make people curious about the fate of Tibetans and the nonviolent self-determination of Tibet.He said there are sharp shooters positioned in tall buildings and lots of security forces in uniform carrying machine guns in Lhasa. However, we don’t see any pictures because for the last 12 months, Tibet has been closed to the media.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (C) receives the German media prize from Mr Karlheinz Koegel, the chief of Media Control (L), as Mr. Roland Koch, the prime minister of the German state of Hesse (R) applauds the honour, at a ceremony in Baden-Baden, in Germany on 10 February 2009

Mr. Koch a friend of the Tibetan leader for over 20 years is one of the senior politicians in German. He said, “What message will be give to the next generation, if we don’t support a peaceful struggle.”A 20-member jury consisting of Germany’s most important and influential media chief editors voted His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the 2008 Award.The award recognises His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s “active advocacy of reconciliation, tolerance, humility and respect during a time of religious tension, self-destructive, addiction to profit and ongoing violations of human rights”.It supports His Holiness’s non-violent struggle for the rights of the Tibetan people, which he has been leading for over 50 years from exile in India.Previous recipients of the German award include Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, King Hussein of Jordan, and King Juan Carlos of Spain.(Additional report by the representative of Tibet Bureau, Geneva)