Warsaw, 12 February: At the invitation of the Polish All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama based at the Office of Tibet in London, Mr. Tsering Tashi, today exchanged greetings with Parliament Speaker, Prof. Stephan Niesiolowski, and thanked him for his understanding and support for the just cause of Tibet.
“We Tibetans are neither anti-Chinese nor anti-China and this is why more and more Chinese people through better education are showing sympathy and support for the Tibetan cause and respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Buddhist culture. I, on behalf of the Tibetan people, very much appreciate the support that you, the Polish Parliamentary Group for Tibet and the people of Poland have for the just issue of Tibet,” Mr. Tashi told the Speaker of the Polish Parliament during their meeting at the latter’s office in the capital Warsaw.
At this meeting in the parliament, Mr. Tashi was accompanied by Mrs. Beata Bublewicz, MP and Chairperson of the Polish Parliament Group for Tibet, and the group’s Secretary Ms. Ewa Kedzierska.
The Speaker informed Mr. Tashi how the Chinese Ambassador had visited him recently to request him not to allow the formation of parliamentary groups for Tibet and Taiwan and that how he is not the one to bow down to outside pressure. He said because of Poland’s experience of living under totalitarian rule for many years, he fully support human rights for the Tibetan people and have high regard for His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a man of peace and will be happy to meet with His Holiness.
Mr. Tashi, who returns tomorrow to London, also had preliminary meetings with the Chairperson of the Polish Parliamentary Group for Tibet and MPs involved in the group, including Piotr Krzywicki and Andrzej Halicki, member of the Polish Foreign Affairs Committee. He thanked them for their effort and dedication in championing the cause of Tibet and said that by supporting Tibet they are also helping to promote the message of non-violence and peace in the world. The chairperson of the group and MPs assured him their unconditional support and said their willingness to help comes primarily from His Holiness’ encouragement to promote global understanding, peace and tolerance as well as the suffering the Tibetan people are going through.
Yesterday, Mr. Tashi visited Poland’s second most important city of Krakow to meet with the Rector of Jagiellonian University, which has awarded His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the doctorate honoris causa, in recognition of the Tibetan Nobel Peace Laureate’s service to human rights, world peace and inter-religious harmony. Jagiellonian University is Poland’s oldest and most prestigious university and this honour is reserved only to very distinguished figures of strong international academic and moral standing. Mr. Tashi, who was given a tour of the university and its historic museum, expressed to the Rector the Tibetan appreciation for the honour bestowed upon His Holiness. The Rector, Prof. Karol Musiol, informed Mr. Tashi that in the present time the university felt the only viable world figure worthy of their honour was His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was also highly regarded by late Pope John Paul II, a former graduate of Jagiellonian University.
During his three day visit to the Polish capital and the old capital Krakow, Mr. Tashi also met with the small Tibetan population numbering about two dozens under the aegis of the recently formed Tibetan Community in Poland. He urged the Tibetans to keep alive the Tibetan spirit and to try to win the support of as many people, including the Chinese people, who, through information, are capable of showing their true human feelings for the suffering people in Tibet.
During his visit to Warsaw, Mr. Tashi was also invited to visit the medical clinic of Dr. Ven. Tenzin Jangchub, who is the first ever Tibetan monk to be given Polish citizenship at a function a few months back that was presided over by the Mayor of Warsaw. Dr. Jangchub has received wide media coverage in Poland as a model citizen and for all the good work that he has been doing for the last many years helping hundreds and thousands of Polish people through his effective use of Tibetan medical practice in treating patients from all walks of life.
Besides being interviewed by a journalist from a national daily, Mr. Tashi also met with some interested people skilled in their chosen professional fields. Mr Tashi is scheduled to meet with representatives from the Helsinki Foundation and members of the Polish Tibet Support Group on Wednesday.
Based on report submitted by Ewa Kedzierska
