Dharamshala: In the wake of the successful democratic election of Tibetan leadership in exile, the third such exercise since the complete devolution of political role by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, leaders from across the world have congratulated the new President-elect of the Central Tibetan Administration, Mr Penpa Tsering.
From the US to Taiwan, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic, ministries and parliamentarians wrote to congratulate President-elect Penpa Tsering, expressing “intensive cooperation” with the CTA and support for its long sustained, nonviolent and pragmatic pursuit of genuine autonomy through the Middle Way Policy.
1st Vice-President of the Czech Republic Senate Jiri Ruzicka and Přemysl Rabas, Chairman of the Senate Group of Friends of Tibet, wrote: “Please accept our warm congratulations on your success in the Sikyong election. We believe that the coming years will be a successful and promising period for you personally, Tibetans as well as for the supporters of Tibet.”
The duo assured that “it is not only the Senate Group of Friends of Tibet” that support Tibetans but there are “many other politicians and hundreds of thousands of people in the Czech Republic who fly Tibetan flags every year to support the idea of real autonomy of Tibet”.
“We are brought together by the historical experience of the totalitarian regime, but also by the legacy of the deep friendship between his Holiness the Dalai Lama and President Václav Havel.”
Affirming to build on the “successful cooperation with your predecessor, Mr. Lobsang Sangay”, the senate leaders extended an invitation to the President-elect to visit the seat of the Czech Senate in Prague.
“We will therefore be very pleased if one of your first trips abroad will lead to Prague and the seat of the Czech Senate. You and your colleagues are always welcome here.”
Members of the Belgian parliament, Samuel Cogolati who is also the Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Georges Dallemagne, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee offered congratulations to the “Sikyong of Central Tibetan Administration” and the “new elected members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile”.
“We applaud and welcome the efforts undertaken by the Dalai Lama to set-up democratic institutions in exile, and command the Tibetan exile community for once again completing this democratic process.”
They offered him to visit Brussels to discuss matters concerning “the situation in Tibet and ways in which the Belgian Parliament could contribute to improve the human rights situation of the Tibetan people.”
“We look forward to working with you to support a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Tibet through a direct negotiation process between the CTA and the Chinese government in line with the Middle Way Approach.”
French Senator Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio, President of the French Senate Tibet Group, officially known as the International Group for Information on Tibet, said the group has closely followed the Tibetan elections which she hailed was “the result of the work and efforts undertaken by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Community in exile”.
Acknowledging the Tibetan leader’s commitment to launch efforts towards reinvigorating dialogue with the Chinese government, the Senator extended “full support” in that effort and invited Penpa Tsering to France to discuss joint initiatives in safeguarding and promoting the Tibetan cultural identity.
The inauguration of Mr Penpa Tsering as the new President of the Central Tibetan Administration will take place on 26 May.
