The European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) President, Henri Malosse, was a special guest and speaker at the ceremony of the 55th anniversary of the Tibet uprising that took place on 10 March in Dharamsala (India). As the only president of the European Union to visit the government of Tibet in exile, he wanted to pay tribute to the victims of the repression in Tibet and through them to all the people deprived of liberty in China and everywhere in the world.
“The Tibet question is universal”, said Henri Malosse from the stage, “it is a question of liberty, democracy and solidarity, which are the values at the foundation of the European Union”. As such, Europe has these values as a legacy and must defend them everywhere they are in danger in order to find a sustainable solution.
ICT EU Policy Director Vincent Metten was in Dharamsala accompanying the EESC delegation. Mr. Metten said: “The first ever participation of a President of an EU Institution at the commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising here in Dharamsala creates a precedent that will hopefully be followed by other top EU leaders. EESC President Henri Malosse today expressed publicly his support and solidarity for the Tibetan people and the Middle Way Approach. His statement sends a clear political message to Chinese leaders that the EU’s foreign policy is based on cores values of ‘democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity and respect for the principles of the UN Charter and International Law”.
For more information, please see the EESC’s press release.