23 November 2005
Dalai lama visits Scotland and Ireland
Following a 19-day visit to the United States, where he met president Bush and held meetings with members of the House of Representatives and Senate, the Dalai Lama arrived in Scotland. In Edinburgh, he addressed the 4th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet, co-hosted by the Scottish Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet and the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet. Expressing his appreciation to all the members of parliament from across the world and other participants, the Dalai Lama said that although some Chinese government officials may consider the convention as ‘anti-Chinese', in reality this was not the case. He emphasised that the moment the Chinese leadership show genuine understanding and a willingness to resolve the Tibet issue, there would be no need for outside support for the just Tibetan cause. After leaving Scotland, the Dalai Lama travelled to Belfast for a three-day visit where he held meetings with civic and religious leaders, and opened the a mediation centre, which provides training in mediation skills and conflict resolution.