*EPF206 09/09/2003
Text: Senate Passes Measure Welcoming Dalai Lama to United States
(S. Res. 212 cites efforts toward religious freedom) (710)

The Senate passed by unanimous consent September 8 a resolution honoring Tibet's Dalai Lama and welcoming him to the United States.

The resolution, Senate Resolution 212 (S. Res. 212), had been introduced into the Senate on July 31, and referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for action. The panel discharged the proposed resolution on September 8, and the full Senate took up the measure and passed it the same day.

"The Dalai Lama should be recognized and congratulated for his consistent efforts to promote dialogue to peacefully resolve the Tibet issue and to increase the religious and cultural autonomy of the Tibetan people," the authors of S. Res. 212 stated.

The resolution adds that "all parties to the current discussions should be encouraged" by the United States to "deepen these contacts in order to achieve the aspirations of the people of Tibet for genuine autonomy and basic human rights."

Among the sponsors of S. Res. 212 were Senators Bill Frist (Republican of Tennessee) and Tom Daschle (Democrat of South Dakota), the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader respectively.

Also backing the resolution were Senators Richard Lugar (Republican of Indiana) and Joseph Biden (Democrat of Delaware), the chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee respectively.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on Capitol Hill September 9 at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

Following is the text of Senate Resolution 212 from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

108th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. RES. 212

Welcoming His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and recognizing his commitment to non-violence, human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire, Mr. WARNER, Mr. ALLEN, Ms. SNOWE, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. SPECTER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

September 8, 2003

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Welcoming His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and recognizing his commitment to non-violence, human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Whereas for over 40 years in exile, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama has used his position and leadership to promote compassion and non-violence as a solution to not only the present crisis in Tibet, but to other long-running conflicts around the world;

Whereas the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 in recognition of his efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the situation in Tibet, and to promote nonviolent methods for resolving conflict;

Whereas the Dalai Lama has been a strong voice for the basic human rights of all peoples, particularly freedom of religion;

Whereas the Dalai Lama has personally promoted democratic self-government for Tibetans in exile as a model for securing freedom for all Tibet, including relinquishing his political positions and turning these authorities over to elected Tibetan representatives;

Whereas the Dalai Lama seeks a solution for Tibet that provides genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people and does not call for independence and separation from the People's Republic of China;

Whereas the envoys of the Dalai Lama have traveled to China and Tibet twice in the past year to begin discussions with Chinese authorities on a permanent negotiated settlement of the Tibet issue;

Whereas the successful advancement of these discussions is in the strong interest of both the Chinese and Tibetan people; and

Whereas it is the policy of the United States to support substantive dialogue between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) the visit of the Dalai Lama to the United States in September 2003 is warmly welcomed;

(2) the Dalai Lama should be recognized and congratulated for his consistent efforts to promote dialogue to peacefully resolve the Tibet issue and to increase the religious and cultural autonomy of the Tibetan people; and

(3) all parties to the current discussions should be encouraged by the Government of the United States to deepen these contacts in order to achieve the aspirations of the people of Tibet for genuine autonomy and basic human rights.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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