His Holiness the Dalai Lama receives warm welcome in PolandSaturday, 6 December 2008, 9:14 a.m.
Almost 300 reporters and press photographers attend His Holiness the Dalai Lamas press meeting with Lech Walesa. (Photo: Krzysztof Kuczyk)
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Gdansk: Speaking
to almost 300 journalists from Poland and around the world this
afternoon, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said everyone has the right to
happiness and that for China to become a respected super power in the
world it must gain the moral authority, which comes from respecting
others feelings and through rule of law and freedom of the press. The
Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader was addressing a jam-packed
meeting with the press along with his fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
and former Polish President Lech Walesa. His Holiness arrived this
morning from Brussels to this port city of Poland at the invitation of
the Lech Walesa Institute. He was welcomed at the airport by the Mayor
of the City of Gdansk, Mr. Pawel Adamowicz. “Some Chinese
patriots told me that China wants to become a super power,” His
Holiness said. Besides population, economic and military power, His
Holiness said that to become a respected super power it is important
for China to also gain moral authority. His Holiness made these
comments in response to a journalist’s question on how Europe can help
Tibet and whether China lacked moral authority in the world.His
Holiness said just like the reception he received in Brussels, he
appreciated the spirit of solidarity shown by the Polish people and the
leaders of the Solidarity movement like Mr. Lech Walesa who has the
courage to speak the truth.
Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Polish President Lech Walesa, right, and fellow laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama, left, and Adolfo Perez Esquivel, center, are seen in Gdansk, Poland, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008. Walesa is hosting a handful of Nobel Peace Prize laureates to mark the 25th anniversary of his Nobel Peace Prize win. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) |
Unfortunately
some leaders while dealing with China lack the courage to tell the
Chinese leadership what their faults are and this he feels is not the
sign of a genuine friend, His Holiness said. A genuine friend must be
willing to tell China of its faults and mistakes so that China can
learn and benefit from these frank comments. On a journalist’s question on the EU-China relations, His Holiness said: “China also needs Europe”.According
to the organisers of His Holiness’ visit, the earlier expected
registration of a 100 journalists to the press meeting increased
threefold thanks largely to the publicity generated by the pressure
that the Chinese government tried to put on European leaders, such as
the French President Mr. Nicholas Sarkozy, not to meet with His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. According to Mr. Tsering Tashi, the
Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is accompanying His
Holiness during the Polish visit, Mr. Sarkozy’s office has confirmed
the French President’s meeting with the Tibetan leader tomorrow
afternoon in Gdansk. Earlier while addressing the World Forum
of the Young, His Holiness said the future belongs to the youth and the
young must work hard with self-confidence and determination to make
this 21st century a century of peace, non-violence and dialogue. His
Holiness said dialogue is the only way to resolve issues and this is
why the Tibetan effort to resolve the Tibet issue is in the spirit of a
win-win situation for both the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. His
Holiness further said unfortunately the Chinese authorities are
refusing to accept the reality whilst at the same time increasing
number of Chinese people are showing good understanding of the Tibetan
situation.His Holiness said since the Tibetans rose up in
various parts of Tibet in March and April this year to express their
grievances against the policies of the Chinese government, many Chinese
have written articles critical their government’s policies in Tibet and
in support of the Tibetan aspirations.Answering a question from
a youth delegate in the audience, His Holiness said there were
similarities between the Polish and the Tibetan situation. His
Holiness said firstly just like the Polish people, the Tibetan people
are highly spiritual and it was because of the Polish people’s
determination and spiritual faith that they eventually won their
freedom. His Holiness said both also have experience of living under a
totalitarian communist regime. As for the time frame when Tibet will
be free, His Holiness said it was difficult to tell but said many
Chinese are taking an interest in Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan
culture, which has the potential to benefit humanity at large,
including the Chinese people.The youth conference organised by
the Lech Walesa Institute and the European Solidarity Movement was
attended by over 1000 youth from forty countries including almost 100
journalists. The conference was also addressed by former Nobel Peace
Laureates including F. W. de Klerk, Ms. Shirin Ebadi and the host Mr.
Lech Walesa. His Holiness’ arrival to Gdansk and the events in
which he participated received wide coverage in the media here and
elsewhere. Besides the police cars escorting His Holiness’ motorcade,
the Polish government is also providing round the clock security
protection for the Tibetan Nobel Peace Laureate. His Holiness’
Representative Mr. Tsering Tashi said: “the Polish public and media
interest in His Holiness and their awareness and support for the just
cause of Tibet is most encouraging. In talking to the Polish people
from all walks of life as well as officials and representatives from
the media, one gets the feeling that they consider His Holiness not
only as the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader but also a moral
authority from whom the world and its leaders can draw much inspiration
in addressing the global issues in a more human and positive way”. His
Holiness will tomorrow address the session on “Is Global Peace Ever
Possible” at a panel discussion the Baltic Philharmonic auditorium with
fellow Nobel Peace Laureates which will be moderated by former Foreign
Minister of Poland Mr. Andrszej Olechowski. Following this address, His
Holiness is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of Poland Mr. Donald
Tusk. --Report filed by The Office of Tibet, London