April 20, 2013 9:22 am

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang addressing the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Henri Malosse, the newly-elected president of the European Economic and Social Committee of the European Union in Brussels on 18 April 2013/Photo credit @EU2013

BRUSSELS: Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration arrived in Brussels on 14 April on a four day official visit.

Amongst other official engagements, she was invited to address the swearing in ceremony of Mr. Henri Malosse, the newly elected President of the European Economic and Social Committee of the European Union. The swearing in ceremony was held on 18 April at the European parliament.

The swearing ceremony was attended by more than 600 people ranging from dignitaries from Europe, Ambassadors, Representatives of various public organizations from across the Europe and media persons.

Mr. Henri Malosse in his inaugural speech said that he was most inspired by four prominent figures. They he said are Mr. Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, Ms. Simon Veil, the first female president of the European Parliament, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel laureate and the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and Mr. Lech Walesa, Nobel laureate and former president of Poland.

Mr Henri Malosse, the newly-elected president of the European Economic and Social Committee of the European Union in Brussels on 18 April 2013/Photo credit @EU2013

While elaborating on his association with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr. Malosse said “I have been privileged to meet him twice – thanks to Mario Sepi, in fact. When we met him, the Dalai Lama expressed admiration for the work of Europe’s founding fathers and admitted that he had once had similar hopes for Asia. The Dalai Lama and his words should remind us that there are still many people in the world living without freedom: the European project is also an example that gives us a responsibility to convey the values of freedom, democracy and solidarity loudly and clearly across the world, without ever betraying them in the name of so-called realpolitik, which is nothing short of cowardice”.

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang while addressing the huge audience thanked the European Economic and Social Committee and Mr. Henri Malosse in particular for inviting her to address the gathering. She spoke on the importance and substance of the Middle Way policy of the Central Tibetan Administration in resolving the Tibet issue. She also emphasized the importance of continued support and solidarity of the European Union and the people of Europe in resolving the long-standing conflict between the Tibetan people and the Chinese government.

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang left Brussels this morning for Zurich, Switzerland.

View of the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Henri Malosse, the newly-elected president of EESC of the European Union in Brussels on 18 April 2013/Photo credit @EU2013