Prague: Vice-President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Mr Jiří Oberfalzer hosted Dr Lobsang Sangay, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, who is currently participating in the Forum 2000 Conference, in the Senate today.
The reception was attended by the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Pavel Fischer, Chairman of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Miroslav Antl and Senator Přemysl Rabas.
During their long-hour discussions, which covered a broad range of issues including the Tibetan’s longstanding demand for genuine autonomy within the scope of PRC and their consistent efforts for dialogue based on the Middle Way Policy, the Vice President said he supports CTA’s Middle Way Policy and the demands for a meaningful autonomy.
“The talks revealed that Tibetans do not seek independence. Instead by pursuing the ‘Middle Way’ Policy, they seek genuine autonomy. We consider these demands appropriate, legitimate and moreover compliant with the Chinese constitution,” said the Vice-President Oberfalzer.
The Senate Vice president and representatives collectively called on the People’s Republic of China to respect its commitments.
The discussions ensued as the President Dr Lobsang Sangay apprised the Vice President on the critical issues related to Tibet; from rampant human rights violations, constant assault on Tibetan Buddhist civilization, Tibetan language and identity over the last 60 years to the reckless developmental policies in Tibet all of which poses irreversible damage to the Tibetan Buddhist civilisation and the fragile ecology of Tibet.
At the end of the meeting, President Dr Sangay invited the Vice-President and other Senate representatives to visit the seat of the Tibetan government in exile in Dharamshala, India. The invitation was warmly received by the representatives.
CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay has been officially hosted by the Senate and the Parliament of Czech Republic on multiple occasions. Moreover on his last visit in March this year, the CTA President was accorded a grand official reception by the Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib at the Old City Halls, where the Mayor presented him with a symbolic key to city gates.
The Czech Republic not only hosts the largest parliamentary support group on the continent, but also has the largest support for Tibet at the public level.
Round-table discussion with the Vice-President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Mr Jiří Oberfalzer, Senator Pavel Fischer, Senator Miroslav Antl and Senator Přemysl Rabas.
CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay with the Vice-President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Mr Jiří Oberfalzer, Senator Pavel Fischer, Senator Miroslav Antl and Senator Přemysl Rabas.
Exchange of mementos between the Vice-President Mr Jiří Oberfalzer and CTA President, Dr Lobsang Sangay at the reception.
President Dr Lobsang Sangay presents CTA memento to the Vice-President.
CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay and Representative Chhimey Rigzen with the Vice-President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Mr Jiří Oberfalzer, Senator Pavel Fischer, Senator Miroslav Antl and Senator Přemysl Rabas.