Ref: ka/1046(63) 2006-07
Honorable Mr. Dennnis Hastert,
On behalf of the Kashag and the Central Tibetan Administration, I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for the Bill passed by the United States Congress to award His Holiness the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal, the most distinguished award bestowed by the US Congress.
The US Congress” recognition of the tireless efforts of His Holiness the Dalai lama to resolve the issue of Tibet within the constitutional framework of the People’s Republic of China and his wider efforts to promote peace, dialogue, non-violence and environmental protection will come as a huge encouragement to the Tibetan people whose devotion to him is total and unbreakable.
At the same time I take this opportunity to thank the US Congress for its efforts for these many years to improve the human rights situation in Tibet and its financial support to look after the new arrivals from Tibet and for the opportunity given to Tibetan refugee students to study every year at institutions of higher learning in America. These efforts by the US Congress, including the establishment of the Tibetan language services of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, have helped us to build a cohesive and vibrant community in exile.
I also like to thank the members of both the Senate and House who have worked so hard to co-sponsor the Bill to bestow the US Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The individual support of each and every Senators and Representatives for the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the vexed and protracted issue of Tibet base on the Middle Way Approach is deeply appreciated by the six million Tibetan people. The solid support for the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the US Congress will never be forgotten by the Tibetan people.
To,
Mr. Dennis Hastert
The Speaker
US House of Representative
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)