Kalon Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information and International Relations(DIIR), addressing the visiting delegates from the European Parliament and FNF. Photo/ Tenzin Jigme/ CTA

Dharamshala: Kalon(Minister) Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information and International Relations(DIIR), Central Tibetan Administration received the visiting delegation of the European Parliament and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), Regional Office South Asia today on 5 October at the department.

The European Parliament Delegation consists of Yannick Shetty, Member of Parliament, Austria; Dolores Bakos, Member of Legislative Assembly, Vienna, Austria; Dirk Bergner, Deputy Speaker of the State Parliament, Thuringia, Germany; Regina Bergner, Head of Department, Jena Municipal Corporation, Germany; Torsten Herbst, Parliamentary Leader of the FDP Bundestag Group, Germany; Sandra Weeser Member of Parliament, Germany; Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus, Member of Parliament, Germany; and Olaf in der Beek, Member of Parliament, Germany.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Delegation consists of Dr. Carsten Klein, Head, FNF South Asia; Frank Hoffman, Regional Project Manager, FNF South Asia; Nupur Hasija, Sr. Program Manager, FNF South Asia; Himanshu Chawla, Regional Communication and Program Manager, FNF South Asia; Tenzin Paljor, Program and Communications Officer, FNF South Asia; Alexander Droop, FNF Intern; and Yannik Meffert, Advisor for Development Cooperation and Projects in Germany, FNF. Tenzin Norsang of the Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD), Department of Finance, CTA accompanied the FNF delegation.

During the hour-long meeting, Kalon Norzin Dolma apprised the visiting delegates of the critical situation inside Tibet, the current status of the Central Tibetan Administration, international relations concerning Tibet, and Tibetan expectations of the international community. She credited the relevance of the Tibetan cause to the moral leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the resilience of the Tibetans inside Tibet, efforts of the Tibetan diaspora, and the support of the international community. Furthermore, Kalon highlighted the grim situation inside Tibet and underscored the harsh policies implemented by the Beijing government such as undermining the religious rights and freedom and targeting monasteries which they consider as “a hotbed of dissent” to the most recent policy of coerced admission of Tibetan children into colonial-style boarding schools indoctrinating children with revised history and prioritising Chinese language. Affirming the committed stance of the CTA to seeking the resolution of the Sino-Tibet conflict using the Middle-Way Policy, she said it addressed the fundamental concerns of both the Chinese government and the Tibetan people.

Kalon highlighted the gratitude owed to the Indian government and people for hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community and providing humanitarian assistance to aid the preservation of the Tibetan identity. Similarly, she recognised the US government’s financial assistance to the Tibetans and political aid in the form of legislations supporting the Tibetan people. In the same breath, Kalon recognised the support of the European nations to Tibet cause. Furthermore, she highlighted CTA’s efforts to form alliances with the oppressed groups including East Turkestan, Inner Mongolia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and shared that their ultimate objective is universal.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary Karma Choeying of DIIR and Additional Secretary of Information, Namgyal Tsewang.

Kalon Norzin Dolma presents a DIIR publication, “International Resolutions and Recognitions on Tibet(1959-2022)” to the visiting delegates. Photo/ Tenzin Jigme/ CTA

Secretary Karma Choeying of DIIR speaking at the gathering. Photo/ Tenzin Jigme/ CTA

Torsten Herbst, Parliamentary Leader of the FDP Bundestag Group, Germany interacts with Kalon Norzin Dolma. Photo/ Tenzin Jigme/ CTA

Yannick Shetty, Austrian Member of Parliament, speaks with Kalon Norzin Dolma. Photo/ Tenzin Jigme/ CTA

Dr. Carsten Klein, Head, FNF South Asia, speaks with Kalon Norzin Dolma. Photo/ Tenzin Jigme/ CTA

Group photo of the visiting delegates with Kalon Norzin Dolma-led DIIR staff. Photo/ Tenzin Jigme/ CTA