(TibetanReview.net, Oct17’24) –Concluding his four-nation tour of Europe on the last of the three-day, 28th Forum 2000 conference in Prague on Oct 15, Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has suggested that the Czech parliament enact an Act similar to that signed by US President Joe Biden on Jul 12. The Act recognizes China’s annexation of Tibet as illegal under international law and supports the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination, even as the US administration continues to recognize Tibet as part of China.
The Tibetan Sikyong said how beneficial it would be if European nations adopted similar resolutions in meeting with Mr Milan Vašina, Head of the Office of the President of the Czech Republic, at the Prague Congress Centre, said the CTA on its Tibet.net website Oct 17.
Their discussions focused primarily on the current situation in Tibet, with the Tibetan Sikyong elaborating on the critical aspects of the Resolve Tibet Act signed by the US President and expressing how beneficial it would be if European nations adopted similar measures, the report said.
Mr Vašina has informed the Tibetan Sikyong about the Czech government’s several Tibet-related projects, including initiatives related to celebrations marking the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama next year.
The Tibetan Sikyong has also complained about the reluctance of certain parliamentarians and dignitaries to engage with the Tibetan political leadership on platforms such as Forum 2000, which is specifically designed to foster such essential discussions.
After meeting with Mr Vašina, the Tibetan Sikyong was started to have had what was described as a pivotal engagement with Jan Lipavský, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
“This meeting was particularly significant, as Sikyong highlighted the enduring relationship between the Czech Republic and Tibet by invoking the profound friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech republic. This historical bond underscored the shared values of freedom, justice, and mutual respect between the Tibetan and Czech peoples, which continue to serve as a foundation for their relationship today,” the report said.
The Sikyong has also participated in what was stated to be a highly anticipated session with Carl Gershman, founding former President of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), on “The Future of Tibet,” which was open to the public.
He has concluded his visit to the Czech Republic with a meeting with Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the parliament’s Chamber of Deputies.