His Holiness meets Danish Foreign Minister, blesses Ngawang Sangdrol
Copenhagen Denmark, 5 June 2003: Addressing a joint press briefing with the Danish Foreign Minister, Mr. Per Stig Moller, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that his delegation’s ongoing second visit to China looks like a good start and is aimed at building confidence and removing the Chinese leadership’s suspicions. “This is the moment to build trust. With trust the next step would be how to improve the situation in Tibet without damaging the environment. In the meantime support from the outside world is very important,” the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader said.
The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner who has a scheduled meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday also extended his appreciation to the Danish people, parliament and government for supporting the Tibetan cause.
“The media also is very supportive. But I do not consider your support as pro-Tibet, but rather aspro-justice,” His Holiness told the waiting group of journalists amidst the clutter of camera shots.
The Foreign Minister told the media that Denmark welcomes the Tibetan delegation’s visit to China and that they were supporting some projects in Tibet and Dharamsala to help preserve the Tibetan culture.
“I am happy for the opportunity to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama again spiritually and politically,” he said. Mr. Moller had met His Holiness on a couple of occasions when he was in the opposition and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Earlier on arrival at the down town hotel, His Holiness was greeted by Ngawang Sangdrol who could not control her emotions and tears and fell right on the floor to seek his blessings. His Holiness placed the traditional white greeting scarf on the Tibetan nationalist’s neck and consoled her. In the afternoon after the scheduled meeting with the press, His Holiness on his way out introduced Ngawang Sangdrol to the press and said that if they want to know more about the situation inside Tibet they should ask her as she has recently been released from prison. The once longest-serving female Tibetan political prisoner is currently in Denmark to attend His Holiness’ teachings and also is scheduled to have a special audience with His Holiness.
His Holiness also had a round-table meeting in the parliament with members of the Foreign Policy Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. The members showed much concern and keen interest in the Tibet situation and sought His Holiness’ advise on some key issues concerning the welfare of the Tibetan people.
Beginning tomorrow His Holiness will give a five-day teachings on The Six Paramitas, a fundamental Buddhist practice on the path towards developing a better quality of life and real joy through unconditional love and compassion for others. It is included in the text, The Thirty-seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, written by the great Buddhist teacher, Thogme Zangpo (1295-1369).
On Thursday, His Holiness will give a public talk on, Universal Responsibility. According to the Tibet Charity, the organiser of His Holiness’ current visit to Denmark, the tickets for the talk and teachings have all been sold out a long time back. Some Tibetans and Westerners from other parts of Europe have also come to attend His Holiness’ teachings.
By Tsering Tashi (Office of Tibet, London)