Pelosi Remarks on Visit of the Dalai Lama and 20th Anniversary of Congressional Human Rights Caucus

September 9, 2003

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke this morning at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, featuring the Dalai Lama as the keynote speaker. Below are Pelosi's remarks:

"What a wonderful honor for all of us to breathe the same air as His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Congressmen Frank Wolf and Tom Lantos, Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I would like to thank you for all of your leadership in promoting human rights around the world and for bringing us together today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Caucus.

"Tom Lantos is the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress, and he has used his position to become a leading voice for the human rights of individuals around the world. Frank Wolf believes members of Congress have an obligation to speak out for those who are persecuted. He has traveled throughout the world to witness firsthand the tremendous suffering of people at the hands of corrupt governments, war, AIDS and famine.

"Over the years, the Human Rights Caucus has directly helped hundreds of victims of religious, ethnic, and political oppression. And I am proud to be a member.

"In the spirit of bipartisanship, I join with the Speaker in greeting our guests and welcoming His Holiness to salute the Human Rights Caucus.

"It is entirely appropriate that our keynote speaker today is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 40 years of exile, His Holiness has used his position and leadership to promote wisdom, compassion, and non-violence as a solution not only to the present crisis in Tibet, but to other long-running conflicts around the world.

"We must heed the guidance of His Holiness. He is a constant reminder that the crisis in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world. We have not forgotten the people of Tibet in their struggle. We must and will continue our efforts.

"The survival of the Tibetan identity is an issue of legitimate U.S. and international concern. That concern will not diminish until a negotiated solution is achieved and the rights of the Tibetan people are respected. The solution ultimately depends on China’s recognition of the value to its own interests in fostering internal stability and international respectability.

"Envoys of the Dalai Lama have traveled to China and Tibet twice in the past year to continue discussions with Chinese authorities on a permanent negotiated settlement of the Tibet issue. We are encouraged by recent developments to deepen these contacts to achieve the aspirations of the people of Tibet for genuine autonomy and basic human rights.

"Unless the United States and other countries of the world are committed to meeting the challenge that Tibet makes to our conscience, then we cannot be consistent when we talk about human rights in any other place in the world."

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