His Holiness returns after successfully concluding visit to France

Monday, 25 August 2008
Tibet.net

Dharamshala: Scores of people, including Tibetans and other devotees carrying incense, scarves and flowers, welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his return to Dharamshala on Sunday, after successfully concluding a twelve-day visit to France from 11-23 August.

The Dalai Lama (3rdR) poses with Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (R), Rama Yade (L) and Bernard Kouchner during the inauguration ceremony of the Buddhist Lerab Ling temple in Roqueredonde, southern France, August 22, 2008

On 20 August, before concluding the five-day teaching at Nantes, His Holiness explained about the importance and significance of observing the global mass prayer session and symbolic fast for 12 hours to be held on 30 August.

Addressing some 7200 devotees, His Holiness said he will be participating in the fast on that day and expressed hope that they will join him too in the non-violent action.

His Holiness said that this event would be better if people can get together at a particular place, adding that the fast and prayers can also be organised in their respective places with a good motive.

On the morning of 22 August, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, First Lady of France, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and the Deputy Foreign Minister Mrs Rama Yade, who heads the French government's human rights department jointly called on His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

During the meeting, His Holiness briefed them on the Central Tibetan Administration's policy of engaging in dialogue and negotiations in resolving the issue of Tibet during the meetings held between his envoys and representatives of the Chinese government.

His Holiness also apprised them on the present situation in Tibet especially since the event of 10 March this year and the Chinese government's policy to marginalise the Tibetans in Tibet by sending more Han Chinese to Tibet after the Olympic Games.

France's First Lady and the foreign minister both held separate meetings with His Holiness for about four minutes each.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama returns to Dharamshala after a successful 12-day tour of France/Photo courtesy: Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

The foreign minister asked His Holiness if he has any specific message on the issue of Tibet, which he might want to convey to the Chinese leaders.

Mr Kouchner also told His Holiness that he had a proposal to discuss with the foreign ministers of 27 EU member States to invite His Holiness to address them on the issue of Tibet. His Holiness agreed to the foreign minister's proposal.

Later in the afternoon, His Holiness addressed about 30 Tibetan lamas, monks and some foreign Buddhist on "Dholgyal issue". His Holiness also spoke on the significance of the non-violent campaign of 12-hour fast and prayer session.

--The updates on His Holiness' visit to France filed by Office of Tibet, Paris. Additional reporting by Lobsang CHOEDAK and Pema Lhaden