His Holiness’ Representative Visits Karzan
Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 12:00 PM
Russia: At the invitation of Kalmyk National Culture Autonomy and Kalmyk students in Tatarstan, the Buddhist head (Shajin Lama) of Kalmykia Telo Rinpoche, Assistant to Kalmyk President Mr. Karuev and Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia and Mongolia Mr. Tashi visited Kazan, the capital of republic of Tatarstan in Russia from 20 to 22 June 2006.
The delegation was received by the head of Association of National Culture Unity of Tatarstan, Representative of Religious Board of Tatarstan and the staff of Kalmyk National Culture Autonomy at the Karzan airport.
On 21 June the delegation members met with Mr. Nabiev Rinat, the Chairman of Board of Religious Affairs of Tatarstan. They exchanged views on further cooperation in the field of culture and religion between the people of Tatarstan and Kalmykia. Mr. Nabiev expressed his personal sympathy for the people of Tibet and said a justifiable solution must be reached for the Tibetans.
Later on that day a press conference was held in the House of Friendship during which questions relating to Buddhism in Kalmykia and issues of Tibet were raised.
They also met with around 50 young Kalmyk students studying in various Kazan Universities and institutes. Later in the evening a religious teaching was given by Telo Rinpoche to the public.
On 22 June the delegation members were invited by the Tatarstan Tele Radio Company TNV in their studio and were given the opportunity to hold a 10-minute live talk show on Buddhism and its culture.
On the same day they had meeting with the Tatarstan Muslim Board during which Telo Rinpoche expressed the need for a close cooperation and friendship amongst the different religious communities.
Representative Tashi briefed the main objectives and activities of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in promoting basic human values, such as compassion, kindness, tolerance, universal responsibility and in promoting religious harmony among different religions.
The delagation presented books of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other souvenirs to the officials and people whom they met.
The delegation left Kazan on 22 June for Moscow and Kalmykia. Geshe Jampa who also accompanied the delegation stayed in Kazan for another two days with Sanal Kukeev, a Kalmyk Tibetan doctor from the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute. They conducted lectures on Tibetan Buddhism and medicine.
Report prepared by Tibet Culture & Information Centre, Moscow
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)