Prague: On the third day of the 28th Forum 2000, which coincided with the final day of Sikyong Penpa Tsering’s official visit to Europe, an important meeting was held with His Excellency Milan Vašina, Head of the Office of the President of the Czech Republic, at the Prague Congress Centre. The discussion focused primarily on the current situation in Tibet, with Sikyong Penpa Tsering elaborating on the critical aspects of the Resolve Tibet Act and expressing how beneficial it would be if European nations adopted similar resolutions.
During the meeting, Sikyong also took the opportunity to address a concerning issue: the reluctance of certain parliamentarians and dignitaries to engage with the Tibetan political leader on platforms such as Forum 2000, which is specifically designed to foster such essential discussions. The Chancellor highlighted that the Czech government is finalising several Tibet-related projects, including initiatives connected to the upcoming 90th birthday celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Furthermore, Sikyong Penpa Tsering underscored a crucial point regarding the economic relationship between the Czech Republic and China, noting that while China benefits significantly, the Czech Republic continues to face a trade deficit. He emphasised China’s broader strategy of creating dependent, stagnant economies worldwide, shedding light on the long-term implications of these economic ties.
Following the meeting with His Excellency Milan Vašina, Sikyong Penpa Tsering had a pivotal engagement with Jan Lipavský, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. This meeting was particularly significant, as Sikyong highlighted the enduring relationship between the Czech Republic and Tibet by invoking the profound friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Václav Havel, the former Czech president and human rights advocate. This historical bond underscored the shared values of freedom, justice, and mutual respect between the Tibetan and Czech peoples, which continue to serve as a foundation for their relationship today.
Sikyong also shared plans for a project commemorating the special relationship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Václav Havel, to be featured as part of the 90th birthday celebrations of His Holiness. Following this, Sikyong participated in a highly anticipated session with Carl Gershman, Founding President of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), on “The Future of Tibet,” open to public attendance.
During this session, Sikyong refuted China’s portrayal of Tibet as a socialist paradise by highlighting the alarming number of self-immolations that have occurred in recent years, a stark indicator of the severe lack of human rights and freedoms in Tibet. When asked about the health of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sikyong fondly recounted how His Holiness humorously notes that he still has all his teeth. He also mentioned the widespread belief that the Dalai Lama would live very long, adding with subtle irony, “Let us see whether the Dalai Lama will outlive the Communist Party, or the Communist Party will outlive the Dalai Lama,” hinting at the instability within China’s ruling regime.
Sikyong emphasised how China’s once weak “dragon” was nurtured by the United States, Europe, and others to the point where it has grown strong enough to challenge those nations. In conclusion, he left the audience with a thought-provoking suggestion for the next Forum 2000 discussion: “Are democracies strengthening authoritarian regimes?” a critical question for the future of global governance. Following the session with Carl Gershman, Sikyong Penpa Tsering met with representatives from the think tank Sinopsis: Katerina, David, and Ema Stastna for an engaging discussion on Sino-India relations and Indo-Tibet relations. The interactive session also discussed their upcoming projects and plans to visit India. This was succeeded by a meeting with Mr. Jakub Klepal, Director of the Forum 2000 and a supporter of the Tibetan cause, during which they explored potential projects and initiatives where he could lend his assistance.
The day concluded with Sikyong’s meeting with Her Excellency Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic. This final engagement marked the end of Sikyong’s official European visit. Sikyong is now in Ravangla, India, to participate in the 600th anniversary celebration of the birth of the First Kyabgon Gyalwa Gyaltsab.
