New Delhi
16 July 2005
The Dalai Lama will leave on a three-nation tour of Germany, Italy
and Switzerland on July 25 during which he would visit Alto Adige, a province in
northeastern Italy, to study the autonomy it enjoys and examine the possibility of
replicating it in the case of Tibet, which is seeking an autonomous status while
remaining a part of China.
After ethnic problems surfaced between Italians and German-speaking population, the
region was recognised as an autonomous region with special status. The dispute was
settled only by an agreement between Italy and Austria. Incidentally, Alto Adige is among
several models suggested for resolving India and Pakistan dispute over Kashmir.
When contacted in Dharamsala, the Office of His Holiness Dalai Lama said the Italian
province has had a long relationship with Tibetans and the high level of autonomy
enjoyed by its people has attracted many Tibetans over the years who have visited the
region and studied the model of local self-governance.
"The Alto Adige/South Tyrol automomy set-up is one of several models the Tibetans
have been studying over the past several years," the Dalai Lama's office observed. The
Dalai Lama has visited Alto Adige on previous occasions. The region has assisted
Tibetans in the past by organising workshops and academic sessions.
Dalai Lama arrives in Italy on July 29 at the invitation of the local government's
governor Luis Durnwaldner. He would stay in Alto Adige between July 31 and August 2
where he would address an international conference on the subject of ethics and
challenges of the global economy organised by the European Academy.
The Dalai Lama has talked about not insisting on Tibet's secession from China and
made it known that Tibetans would be ready to consider certain options provided Beijing
gave them autonomy. Several rounds of discussions have taken place since then
between representatives of the Dalai Lama and Chinese delegations.
The last meeting was held in Switzerland on June 30 and July 1. The Tibetan
government-in-exile said the meeting was held in a "cordial" atmosphere although
differences persisted on certain issues. Both sides were nevertheless hopeful of
arriving at a mutually acceptable solution.
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