Verein der Tibeter in Deutschland e.V.

Dharamshala: (Sep. 20) A two-day annual meeting of the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has begun Saturday morning here at Gangchen Kyishong, the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration.

Discussions on how to enhance better coordination among the offices of Tibet, and their contact with the Department of Information and International Relations, are one of the main agendas of the meeting.

Kalon Kesang Yangkyi Takla, kalon for the Department of Information and International Relations, welcomed the representatives and gave the opening address of the meeting.

In his address, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche said the eighth round of formal discussions between the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the representatives of the Chinese government will focus on the implementation of national regional autonomy in Tibet as enshrined in the constitution of the People’s Republic of China.

Kalon Tripa also underlined the need to maintain “a sense of urgency” in making efforts to resolve the issue of Tibet, which he said received an unprecedented attention in countries across the world including China.

On the special general meeting on Tibet to be held in November, he said the representatives should take special responsibility to collect opinions of Tibetans living under their respective jurisdictions.

As approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the representatives of His Holiness are among the members attending the special meeting from 17 - 22 November in Dharamshala.

The representative offices based in 10 countries are in New Delhi, India; New York, USA; Geneva, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; London, UK; Canberra, Australia; Paris, France; Moscow, Russia; Pretoria, South Africa; and Taipei, Taiwan.

The liaison office for Latin America, New York and EU coordination office, Brussels, are two offices, which function under the Office of Tibet, New York, and Bureau du Tibet, Paris, respectively.

Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, who also looks after Tibetan affairs in the European countries, is also attending the meeting.

The representative of His Holiness in Australia could not attend the meeting due to slight illness.

Also present at the meeting are the two secretaries and concerned officials of the Department of Information and International Relations.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is back in Dharamshala after undergoing medical tests and treatment following some discomfort recently.
The physicians have informed His Holiness that his general health condition is good but strongly advised him to curtail his travel schedule. In the immediate future the physicians have advised him to take good rest before resuming his schedule.

We are therefore canceling his proposed travel to Europe in October. His Holiness very much regrets the inconvenience this will cause to the organisers of his programs as well as to those who were looking forward to participating in them. We hope everyone will understand the situation.

September 13, 2008

Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dharamshala:(TibetNet) In a letter issued from the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness has called on the speaker and deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, and the Kashag, to convene an emergency general meeting to discuss the fundamental issues of Tibet.

His Holiness said considering the recent crisis inside Tibet and the situation in the world in general, the emergency general meeting would be held under the article 59 of the Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile.

His Holiness said the meeting would be held in November and December this year.

The composition of the representatives for the meeting shall include the members of the Tibetan Parliament and others appointed on its behalf; the Kashag shall jointly decide, in consultation with the Tibetan Parliament or the Standing Committee of the Parliament.

After reading out the letter, Speaker Karma Chophel said since the Parliament is in session, a draft proposal will be formulated and tabled in the house for discussion on Monday.