Dharamshala October 12 – 127 delegates from 15 countries in Europe held a historic gathering on 11-12 October 2008 in Basel/Switzerland and approved a set of clear plan of action to intensify and reinvigorate the Tibetan campaign in the continental Europe.
The Congress reiterated that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the sole and legitimate leader of the six million Tibetans and expressed deep concern at the on-going military crackdown in Tibet. A memorandum calling for immediate cessation of China’s defamation campaign against His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be forwarded to President Hu Jintao of the People`s Republic of China.
A press release issued yesterday by the congress said, “In view of the current deplorable human rights situation in Chinese-occupied Tibet, the Congress will request the Member-States of the European Union to designate a Special EU Coordinator for Tibet, who will encourage the Chinese leadership to agree on a mutually acceptable solution on the future political status of Tibet.”
In a written message earlier to the delegates, His Holiness the Dalai Lama while welcoming the Congress said, “The fact that new generations of Tibetans, who have been born and brought up in foreign lands, are able to follow their elders in upholding our cultural heritage in exile and creating a greater awareness of the Tibetan issue amongst the international public is a source of pride.”
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Kalon Tripa of the Tibetan Government in Exile, updated the delegates on the present political developments in Tibet, while urging the meeting to be frank and transparent.
Following this year’s uprising in Tibet the Congress unanimously resolved to intensify their political activities and programmes to preserve and promote Tibetan language and culture, including Tibetan Buddhism for the benefit of Tibetan youths in Europe. Recommendations to Tibetan Communities in Europe were agreed upon to be implemented at the national, regional and international levels.
Delegates from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK took part in this 1st Europe Tibetan Congress.
