Austrian Tibet support groups met Federal President Dr. Thomas Klestil - Austrian Federal President Dr. Thomas Klestil with 100 heads economic delegation in China

On Monday, 11 Sept 1995, Society SAVE TIBET asked President Dr. Klestil in a letter to receive a delegation consisting of Mr. Lobsang Gyalpo (Tibetan Community Austria), Dr. Mischief Lugger (Friends of Tibet in Austria), Mrs. Heyn (Austrian Tibet Aid SYAMATARA), and Mrs. Tseten Zoechbauer (Soc. SAVE TIBET) before his departure to China. On Wed 13 Sept a meeting was confirmed on Fri 15 Sept by the President's office.

The Federal President and his press officer received the small group in a very friendly way and took the time to listen to their concerns carefully. Mrs. Zoechbauer reported about the present alarming situation of Tibet and the Tibetan People to President Dr. Klestil, which is confirmed by many acknowledged organisations and also from Austrian tourists as eye witnesses. Mrs. Zoechbauer asked President Dr. Klestil to advocate with all his possibilities that

1) the young Panchen Lama and his family be released, so that he can resume his foreseen spiritual education, and not to abuse him for political purposes

2) the Chinese Government may immediately enter into negotiations with H.H. the Dalai Lama on the future of Tibet and the Tibetan people

3) the 60 prisoners of conscious listed by name by AI receive a fair trial and be correspondingly released

4) that the international guide-lines of human rights be felt also in Tibet.

Mrs. Zoechbauer assured President Dr. Klestil that a large part of the Austrian population feels closely tied with Tibet and hopes that their government advocates the cause of Tibet. She underlined also the urgent necessity to put international pressure on the Chinese government, as only so the Tibetan people has a chance of survival and only so the spiritual and cultural heritage of Tibet can be maintained in an authentic way for the people and not just for touristic purposes. Mrs. Zoechbauer emphasized that there remains little time for the struggle of the Tibetan people for survival.

President Dr. Klestil listened with a lot of sympathy and assured Mrs. Zoechbauer that Austria would not sweep the Tibet problem under the carpet. However, it would be better for all to have friendly contacts with the Chinese government, as then there will be communication and thus the possibility to speak about Tibet. He had received H.H. the Dalai Lama in Vienna and in Salzburg and had also announced to the press that he is receiving and listening to representatives from Tibet support groups today. He remarked that his position is not an easy one.

Dr. Mischief Lugger (Friends of Tibet Austria) appealed to President Dr. Klestil

1) to offer the experiences of Austria with respect to the issue of South Tyrol for the solution of the issue of Tibet,

2) to encourage Austrian top politicians to walk upright and show courage towards dictators, e.g. Li Peng.

He informed President Dr. Klestil that those decrees that prohibited demonstrations in viewing distance of Li Peng (at his last year visit to Austria) have been conceived as a restriction of the democratic rights, and thus have been appealed. One is resolved to continues these appeals, if necessary, up to the constitution court or the European commission of human rights.

When Mrs. Heyn from the SYAMATARA Tibet Aid in Tyrol remarked that it would be a big loss also for the West if East-Asian countries like Tibet, whose spiritual knowledge is useful also for many Austrians, would perish, President Dr. Klestil said: "Tibet does not perish - it is being wrecked."

Mr. Lobsang Gyalpo asked President Dr. Klestil to point out to the Chinese government that the world has not forgotten Tibet and that the West including Austria continue to watch the fate of Tibet.

Through the Austrian Press Agency APA we heard on Sept 18 that President Dr. Klestil on his 5 day official visit (accompanied by more than 100 business representatives) had been officially welcomed by president Jiang Zemin and that meetings with prime minister Li Peng and foreign minister Qian Qichen are scheduled. The business talks concern project worth 6.5 billions ATS (about 600 million USD). In the course of the 45 minute talk with Jiang Zemin on the first day President Dr. Klestil addressed the nuclear bomb tests by China and the issue of Tibet. According to Klestil, the answers of Zemin were "not unexpected". The freedom of religion in Tibet were guaranteed, but the country were an "inseparable part of China". Jiang Zemin denied that the region is infiltrated by Chinese and the Tibetan thus endangered as a minority. Tibet had always been a part of the Chinese empire. President Dr. Klestil remembered also the visit of H.H. the Dalai Lama (in Graz, Austria, this year in June) and deposited the wish that

three Tibetans imprisoned in China, of whom the city of Gray has taken care, be released. According to his own words, President Dr. Klestil underlined the universality of human rights as fixated at the Vienna Human Rights Conference (in 1992). Thus it is not a interference with the internal affairs of another state to put one's one stand-point more precisely. With regard to the nuclear testing issue China argues that they are the smallest nuclear power and have so far made only 40 tests, and that they want to join the NPT (not sure whether NPT or comprehensive test ban is meant. - the translator) in 1996.

Austrian Minister of Defence, Werner Fasslabend, emphasized the role of China as a permanent member of the world security council with respect to the future global security policy of Europe. For Austria, now a member of EU, China is an important discussion partner in Asia. Vice versa, Austria has a turn-table function for China in Europe. Fasslabend also met the Chinese Minister of Defence. For the coming year it is planned to send an Austrian military attache to the embassy in Beijing.

One of the major Austrian newspapers commented "Human rights checked off - Austria's delegation in the Empire of the Middle (China) can proceed to business matters (12-14 bill. ATS are on the stake!)

The Society SAVE TIBET wishes to thank President Dr. Klestil in the name of the people of Tibet and of the numerous Austrians thinking in a universally responsible way that he has mentioned the problems of Tibet in a clear and courageous way during his official visit.