"The Friendship Group on Tibet, consisting of Parliamentarians, submitted to the 12+ Group at the 97th Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Seoul on 10-15 April, 1997,

Deeply concerned about the violations of Human Rights of the Tibetan people and recognizing their right to preserve their cultural and religious identity,

Emphasises the willingness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to accept Tibet as part of China so long as genuine self-governance for the Tibetan people is guaranteed,

Supports the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people to solve the Tibetan problem non-violently, including urging the Chinese Authorities to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama without preconditions and at a neutral site,

Appeals to the Chinese Authorities to release from custody the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama: this boy is 8 years old and the youngest known political prisoner in the world; he was chosen by His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and then replaced by the Chinese Government with another boy".

Signed by:

Henning Gjellerod, MP, Denmark

Matt Robson, MP, New Zealand

Zoltan Rockenbauer, MP, Hungary

Jacque Lefevre, MP, Belgium

Jan van Erps, MP, Belgium

Claude Huriet, MP, France

Sheila Finestone, MP, Canada

Ushi Eid, MP, Germany

Zdenek Babka, Senator, Czeck Republic

Andrius Kubilius, MP, Lithuania