Budapest, April 7 (MTI) – The Dalai Lama’s representative in central and eastern Europe, Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, met Zsolt Nemeth, head of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, in Budapest on Tuesday.
After the meeting Nemeth, a deputy of Hungary’s main opposition Fidesz party, told a news conference that government’s Tibet policy was flawed. He said that a clearer and more straightforward position was needed.
Nemeth mentioned the lengthy procedures people from Tibet faced before being granted refugee status in Hungary as one example.
Nemeth noted, however, that there was a political consensus over the “one China” policy and none of Hungary’s political parties thought it should be revised.
However, granting Tibet real autonomy would send an important message to the international community, said Nemeth. It would make it clear that autonomy does not necessarily involve secession and instability but was a mode for settling ethnic conflicts.
Tseten Samdup said that Hungary could be instrumental in helping Tibet if people approached their parliamentary representatives to support its case, and called on China to change its policy.
Tseten Samdup noted that his agenda had not included talks with Hungarian government representatives.
He will also meet the head of parliament’s human rights committee (who is an opposition deputy).
He added that the Dalai Lama, who had so far visited Hungary six times, may visit the country again.
