German leader tells China to resume talks with Dalai Lama - Hindustan Times
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German leader tells China to resume talks with Dalai Lama

Hindustan Times | By, Dharamsala
Mar 09, 2015 08:23 PM IST

Extending her support to the Tibetan people on the eve of Tibetan National Uprising Day, vice-president of the Bundestag (German Parliament) Claudia Roth on Monday urged the Chinese government to resume dialogue with spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Extending her support to the Tibetan people on the eve of Tibetan National Uprising Day, vice-president of the Bundestag (German Parliament) Claudia Roth on Monday urged the Chinese government to resume dialogue with spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Tibetan-spiritual-leader-the-Dalai-Lama-at-the-main-Tibetan-Tsuglagkhang-temple-at-Mcleodganj-near-Dharamsala-Shyam-Sharma-HT
Tibetan-spiritual-leader-the-Dalai-Lama-at-the-main-Tibetan-Tsuglagkhang-temple-at-Mcleodganj-near-Dharamsala-Shyam-Sharma-HT


“The Chinese government should resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives for genuine autonomy in Tibet,” said Roth, who is on three-day visit to Dharamsala.

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Roth will be the chief guest on 56th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day on Tuesday (Today) and will address the official function to be held by the Exile Tibetan government at Tsuglakhang Temple.

“It is a day of remembrance of the Tibetan uprising in 1959. We Germans know it is important not to forget and to keep history alive. The history is the basis to build a better future,” said Roth, expressing delight to be in Dharamsala for the occasion. As human beings, Roth said, it is duty of all not to forget the Tibet issue.

“If we forget the issue, the culture and the wealth of the people will disappear and it will not survive,” she added.
She voiced strong support to the middle way approach of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to resolve the Tibet issue, stating that it was a very good basis for real dialogue.

“I urge the Chinese side to accept this reach-out from the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people as it is in the proper interest of China because it is compatible with Chinese law,” Roth said. She also urged other world countries to support the Tibetan movement for it being based on democratic ideals.

“Tibet being one of the largest reservoirs of water is also crucial to stability and peace around the world,” said Roth.

Expressing her concern towards the current world scenario, the Bundestag vice- president said in a world full of crimes, crisis and war every nation should respect human rights to guarantee stability, peace and freedom.

Meanwhile, in a joint press conference with Roth, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay expressed gratitude to Roth for agreeing to the invitation by the CTA to come and be chief guest at Tibetan National uprising Day.

“I thank her on behalf of all the Tibetans, including those inside Tibet, to have come here. We are grateful that a person of such stature travelled all the way from Germany to Dharamsala to show her support and solidarity,” Sangay said.

“Your presence here sends a strong message of hope to us that despite the repression and suppression, there are friends, especially friends who matter, who take the trouble to be with the Tibetan people in our hour of need,” he said.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Naresh K Thakur is a staff reporter in Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. Based at Dharamshala, he covers Tibetan affairs, local politics and environmental issues.

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