His Holiness says a ‘democratic’ China could resolve Tibet issueSaturday, 6 December 2008, 10:09 a.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (L) and Lech Walesa./AFP

Gdansk:
A democratic China with freedom of speech, rule of law and particularly
with the freedom of the press, will resolve the issue of Tibet within a
few days, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Friday in the Polish city of
Gdansk.His Holiness was addressing an international conference
of World Forum of the Young on, which was attended by about 1000
participants, including 100 journalists.His Holiness the Dalai
Lama and Nobel Peace Prize laureates were invited to this Baltic port
city to mark the 25th anniversary of the day the award went to Poland’s
Lech Walesa for leading the Solidarity movement in a peaceful struggle
against the then communist regime.”When China becomes more
democratic, with freedom of speech, with rule of law and particularly
with freedom of the press … once China becomes an open, modern
society, then the Tibet issue, I think within a few days, can be
solved,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said.Addressing the
European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday, His Holiness the Dalai
Lama had said China lacked the moral authority to be a true superpower.Asked
whether EU-China relations and trade could suffer over his planned
meeting with Sarkozy in Gdansk, the Dalai Lama said “China also needs
Europe.””If I were in the country of his Holiness, I would
fight there too,” Lach Walesa told a youth forum Friday, speaking in
debates alongside His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”How would I lead
to victory? I can’t say this publicly… Really there is a chance…
There is no situation where there is no chance, you just have to choose
your means and your strength and time to reshape the political scene at
the right time,” said Walesa.Lach Walesa is regarded as a key figure in the peaceful collapse of communism in Poland in 1989.”I
will try to say how I would fight but not publicly, in private,” he
added. “I wish the Tibetan nation freedom,” said Walesa who was also
president after the fall of communism.”The Chinese government
always accuses us of (being) separatist, this is totally baseless!” His
Holiness the Dalai Lama said later Friday in Gdansk.His
Holiness said “we are willing to remain within the People’s Republic of
China provided that we have our own culture including our own language
and spirituality…our rich compassionate, non-violent culture.””China
is full of corruption,” His Holiness said. “In fact Tibetan cultural
heritage can help immensely to give some Chinese who lost the meaning
of life, the purpose of life — their only concern money, money, money.””The
best way to counter corruption is self discipline, so therefore Tibetan
cultural heritage certainly can help immensely many Chinese — already
I think a few hundred thousand Chinese — I think nearly a million
already following Tibetan Buddhism,” His Holiness said. His Holiness arrived Friday in Poland for his third leg of Europe visit, which took him from Czech Republic and Belgium.The highlight of his visit also include a meeting with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on Saturday, 6 December.