sexta-feira, dezembro 14, 2007
Dalai Lama calls on Italy to back Tibetan autonomy
ROME, December 13: Tibetan exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called on Italy Thursday to support Tibet in its bid for autonomy, in a speech to Italian parliament members."We appeal to you, help us," the Dalai Lama told lawmakers, urging both concrete help as well as moral support.
Recent meetings between the Dalai Lama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President George W. Bush have angered Beijing.
A planned meeting with Pope Benedict XVI was cancelled, in a decision that Italian media reports said facilitated the recent ordination of a new bishop in Guangdong, southern China, with the Vatican's approval.
While some lawmakers wanted the speech to occur in the parliament chamber, the president of the chamber of deputies, Fausto Bertinotti, refused.He argued that the only religious authority entitled to speak in the chamber was the pope, due to his connections with Italy.The speech instead occurred in a side room.
"We do not want independence for Tibet, but only to preserve our cultural traditions, which enrich even those of China," the Dalai Lama said.
China made clear its disapproval of the trip to the Italian foreign affairs ministry
