Published by: World Tibet Network News, Sunday, October 27, 1996

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SESSION NEWS PRESS RELEASE DOCUMENT

DATE: OCTOBER 24, 1996

Thursday 24 October - The Dalai Lama reaffirmed that 'As soon as the Chinese government makes a move, I will be ready to negotiate unconditionally'. His Holiness made his statement in the course of parliamentary meeting of the foreign affairs of the Rex and development committees on 23 October 1996.

The Dalai Lama proved to be a man open to dialogue and reconciliation. He is convinced that Tibet 'has a major role as peacemaker, and in contributing to reducing tension between the two most populated countries in the world China and India.

Reminding the committees of Tibet's long independent history and his wish to remain so, the Dalai Lama regards 'the safeguard of Tibetan culture as in the Chinese interests'.

The Dalai Lama is 'looking for real autonomy'. In preparatory talks which took place on 12 March of this year with Tibetan representatives, Deng Xiaoping the Chinese leader had categorically rejected independence. At the same time, his Holiness thinks that 'external and security relations would return to the Chinese government as territory was its concern Adding 'we do not want to do anything anti-Chinese, we admire Chinese civilisation'. He also noted that intellectual circles and academia 'have begun to criticise Chinese policy regarding Tibet.''