Brussels, 20 July: Rigzin Genkhang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the EU and Western Europe, paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Gorka Knörr, Representative of the government of Catalonia to the EU on Tuesday at their Office in the EU quarters.
During the meeting, Representative Genkhang recalled His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Barcelona and the Catalan Parliament in 2007 and the successive visits of CTA’s leadership there. She briefed Representative Knörr on the continued repression of Tibetans and the restrictions on religious freedom in Tibet owing to which over 157 Tibetans from all age groups from all walks of life have resorted to self-immolation. She also informed the operation of forced boarding schools in Tibet by the Chinese government.
Representative Knör took attentive note of briefing and recalled his time as a Member of Parliament in the late 1990s when he founded the Greens/European Free Alliance group and recounted having regular contact with the Tibet Intergroup then.
The two discussed a wide range of issues. Representative Genkhang expressed her appreciation to Representative Knörr for his frankness and his willingness to work together.
This was the first meeting with Representative Knörr who attended the reception organised by the Bureau du Tibet, Brussels, to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 87th birthday. Earlier on Monday, Representative Genkhang called on her Canadian counterpart.
