Toulouse, France, 12 August 2011 - Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
arrived in Toulouse from Geneva at around 1600 hrs. He was welcomed at
the airport by Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen and spiritual directors and
members of the Organising Committee, Toulouse 2011. His Holiness also
met with a group of the French medias at the airport lounge.
|
His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets with journalists on his arrival in Toulouse, France, on 12 August 2011. Photo/Alexandra Silva
|
While speaking to the journalists, His Holiness
extended his greetings to the people of France and expressed his
happiness to have visited southern France once again. His Holiness told
that the purpose of his visit was to carry on with his two lifelong
commitments of promoting human values, warm heartedness and religious
harmony, which he would be explaining in more detail during his three
day long public interactions.
In a reply to question about the difference between
his current visit with that of the last many visits to France, His
Holiness declared that this was his first visit to France without formal
political responsibility. His Holiness said that he was deeply
influenced by the ideals of democracy since his youth and reaffirmed his
belief of the world belonging to the humanity, and not to any king,
religious leader, or a party. Consequently, he feels deep satisfaction
and happiness over having voluntarily devolved his political and
administrative powers to the elected Tibetan political leader last
Monday on 8th August 2011.
His Holiness also said that it was for the first
time in Tibet's two thousand year long recorded history that a
democratically elected political leader had taken over the helm of
political leadership.
His Holiness further stated that there was growing calls for
freedom, openness and transparency in China, and even cited the Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao's recent call for political reforms. Therefore, there
is also ground for optimism that significant changes will continue to
take place in China with positive effects on the issue of Tibet in
future. This is sign that China cannot escape from the current
international trend towards more openness, freedom and democracy, He
said.
|
| His Holiness is greeted by
well-wishers on his arrival at his hotel in Toulouse, France, on 12
August 2011. Photo/Alexandra Silva |
While
reaffirming Tibet's distinct history, culture, language and identity,
His Holiness elaborated on the Middle Way policy of the Central Tibetan
Administration in Exile for finding a peaceful solution to the issue of
Tibet. He explained that this approach does not seek separation and
independence of Tibet but strives for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan
people within the framework of the People's Republic of China. His
Holiness further elucidated that this approach of Central Tibetan
Administration is in the larger interest of the two peoples and is in
line with the provisions of and the relevant laws on the national
regional autonomy for minorities as enshrined in the constitution of the
PRC. This provisions must be fully and faithfully implemented in order
to ensure genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people, His Holiness added.
His Holiness left the airport for hotel where he was received by a
group of Tibetans, including Venerable Thupten Wangchen who is a member
of Tibetan Parliament in exile and many friends of Tibet.
His Holiness will be giving teachings on Kamalashila's Middles
Stages of Meditation for next two days followed by a public talk on 15th
August. The teaching will be translated into eight languages including
Chinese and Vietnamese.
