BRUSSELS: On his 15-day-tour of Europe in May 2012, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is also paying a brief visit to Yeuntenling Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist center in Huy, Belgium. His Holiness will arrive at Yeuntenling in the afternoon of 23 May and will depart from there in the morning of 25 May. It is his fifth visit to Yeuntenling Institute. Belgium is home to the second largest Tibetan community in Europe. Consequently, it is a precious opportunity for Tibetans living in the Benelux countries to see His Holiness and to seek his blessing and spiritual guidance. In the morning of May 24 His Holiness will address a large gathering of Tibetans, Mongolians, Nepalese and members of local Tibet support groups in Belgium and from neighboring countries. Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first visit to Huy in 1990, a close friendship has developed between His Holiness and the Tibetans on the one hand and the City of Huy and its citizens on the other hand. As a mark of this friendship and special bond Mr. Alexis Housiaux, the Mayor of Huy, is conferring the honorary citizenship on His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the presence of local media and press people. His Holiness will use this opportunity to speak to the press people and to answer some of their questions. Due to time constraints it has not been possible to meet the many requests for interview. In the afternoon His Holiness will consecrate the newly built prayer hall of Yeuntenling and thereafter give a public talk on “Loving Kindness”. The last stop on this Europe-tour is Vienna, Austria. While in Vienna, among other programmes, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the elected Tibetan political leader, Dr. Lobsang Sangay, will address the European Solidarity Rally on Saturday, 26 May 2012. In the light of the deepening human rights crisis in occupied Tibet, there is an urgent need for a strong message of concern, support and commitment from Europe to the captive Tibetans in Tibet under Chinese rule. Against this background, Tibetan communities and European Tibet support groups across Europe are joining together to hold an European Solidarity Rally for Tibet. The theme of the Solidarity Rally is “Tibet Needs You Now”. The rally aims to call on the governments of Europe to act on Tibet to ensure respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people and to promote a peaceful resolution to the issue of Tibet through dialogue and negotiations.
Press Release Issued by Bureau du Tibet, Brussels