[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E730-E731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RESOLUTION OF WELCOME TO HIS HOLINESS, THE DALAI LAMA OF TIBET

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 1997

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today, the Members of the Congress have had 
the honor and pleasure of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama of 
Tibet at a reception in his honor sponsored by the Congressional Human 
Rights Caucus. Our distinguished colleague, Congressman John Edward 
Porter and I, as cochairmen of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, 
had the honor of hosting this reception, at which our colleagues had 
the pleasure of meeting the Dalai Lama.
  I am delighted to report to our colleagues that His Holiness met 
today with President Clinton, and he also had the opportunity to meet 
today with the Speaker of the House, our colleague from Georgia, Newt 
Gingrich.
   Mr. Speaker, the occasion for our reception was a historic 
anniversary. In 1987--10 years ago this year--His Holiness the Dalai 
Lama met with the members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. 
This was the Dalai Lama's first such political meeting in Washington, 
DC, with Members of Congress. On this important occasion 10 years ago, 
he presented his five-point peace plan for Tibet for the first time in 
public. This is an outstanding proposal for the nonviolent resolution 
of differences between the people of Tibet and the Government of China. 
This five-point peace plan for Tibet was an important proposal that was 
a significant element in the decision of the Norwegian parliamentary 
committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama in 1989.
  It is most fitting and appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that we here in the 
Congress mark the 10th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's important visit 
here 10 years ago. I regret to note that despite the excellent 
proposals made by His Holiness, Chinese Government authorities have 
adamantly refused to negotiate seriously to resolve the problems 
regarding Tibet. It is also tragic that the Government of China 
continues to carry out policies that threaten the unique and important 
religious and historical cultural traditions of the Tibetan people.
  The tragic human rights violations in Tibet, which we highlighted 10 
years ago, continue to remain a serious problem. The Tibetan people are 
still subject to persecution and the Chinese Government continues to 
repress the Tibetan people.
  Mr. Speaker, in honor of the visit of His Holiness here to the 
Congress, with my colleague, John Edward Porter, I have introduced a 
resolution welcoming the Dalai Lama.

[[Page E731]]

I ask that the full text of our resolution be placed in the Record.

                              H. Res. 124

       Whereas on September 21, 1987, the Dalai Lama visited the 
     United States Congress at the invitation of the Congressional 
     Human Rights Caucus and publicly presented his Five Point 
     Peace Plan for Tibet for the first time;
       Whereas on December 11, 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded 
     the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of the Five Point Peace 
     Plan for Tibet and his consistent principled resistance to 
     the use of force or violence;
       Whereas on this, the tenth anniversary of the presentation 
     of the Dalai Lama's Five Point Peace Plan, the government of 
     the People's Republic of China has yet to enter into serious 
     discussions, without preconditions, with the Dalai Lama or 
     his representatives, in spite of repeated calls from the 
     United States and other governments to do so;
       Whereas the government of the People's Republic of China 
     continues to carry out policies that threaten the existence 
     of Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic 
     traditions, despite urging from the United States and other 
     governments that the People's Republic of China take measures 
     to respect these unique traditions;
       Whereas the Dalai Lama's first visit to Taiwan in March 
     1997 and his message of tolerance and non-violence resonated 
     among millions of people in Taiwan; and
       Whereas His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet will be 
     visiting Washington, D.C., in April 1997: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring) that the Congress,
       (1) warmly welcomes His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama of 
     Tibet to the United States;
       (2) urges the President to meet with His Holiness the Dalai 
     Lama during his visit to discuss substantive issues;
       (3) requests the President to continue to urge the 
     Government of the People's Republic of China to meet with the 
     Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, to 
     discuss a solution to the impasse in their relations; and
       (4) requests His Holiness the Dalai Lama to communicate to 
     the Tibetan people that the Congress and the American people 
     support them in their struggle to preserve Tibetan identity 
     and to protect and exercise their freedoms.

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